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Hive Queen Saga #1
Queen & Commander
On a world where high school test scores determine your future, six students rebel. They’ll outrun society as fast as their questionably obtained spaceship will take them.
Rhiannon doesn’t technically cheat the Test. She’s smarter than the computers that administer it, and she uses that to her advantage. She emerges from Test Day with the most prestigious future career possible: Hive Queen.
Gwyn & Victor are madly in love, but their Test results will tear them apart. Good thing Rhiannon is Gwyn’s best friend. Rhiannon can fix this. Queens can do anything.
Gavin is the wild card. Raised off-planet, he can’t wait to leave again... and he’s heard of an empty ship in orbit. The Ceridwen’s Cauldron.
Both Luciano and Alan fit in the system. They don’t need to leave. Only their devotion to Rhiannon spurs them to join the Cauldron’s crew.
Spaceships. Blackmail. Anywhere but here.
US Edition.
Rhiannon doesn’t technically cheat the Test. She’s smarter than the computers that administer it, and she uses that to her advantage. She emerges from Test Day with the most prestigious future career possible: Hive Queen.
Gwyn & Victor are madly in love, but their Test results will tear them apart. Good thing Rhiannon is Gwyn’s best friend. Rhiannon can fix this. Queens can do anything.
Gavin is the wild card. Raised off-planet, he can’t wait to leave again... and he’s heard of an empty ship in orbit. The Ceridwen’s Cauldron.
Both Luciano and Alan fit in the system. They don’t need to leave. Only their devotion to Rhiannon spurs them to join the Cauldron’s crew.
Spaceships. Blackmail. Anywhere but here.
US Edition.
250 pages, ebook
First published March 1, 2013
24 people are currently reading
1003 people want to read
About the author
Janine A. Southard
17 books82 followersJanine A. Southard writes and edits speculative fiction in between working on videogame projects. She's attended more than the average number of universities, which she claims is a FEATURE not a bug. ("Oxford educated, but Californian at heart;" she's also lived and traveled in Europe, the United States, and Japan.)
Currently, she lives in Seattle with a husband and a cat. The cat pretends to care about this.
Currently, she lives in Seattle with a husband and a cat. The cat pretends to care about this.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
March 7, 2013
QUEEN & COMMANDER is a YA space opera that's kind of like "Firefly" with teen characters. If you're a fan of "Firefly" or spaceships or sci-fi with cool feminist undertones, I highly recommend picking this up.
The characters all have distinct voices, which made it easy to follow the POV changes. The author does a great job balancing the world-building with character depth. For example, Gwyn and Victor's relationship has a healthy dose of teen angst. And the world...oh, the world is so clever! I adore the idea of this planet where men must pledge to follow and serve their Queens.
Southard's prose is beautiful, and I never doubted that I was in this world or on the Cauldron. Can't wait to see what happens in book 2!
The characters all have distinct voices, which made it easy to follow the POV changes. The author does a great job balancing the world-building with character depth. For example, Gwyn and Victor's relationship has a healthy dose of teen angst. And the world...oh, the world is so clever! I adore the idea of this planet where men must pledge to follow and serve their Queens.
Southard's prose is beautiful, and I never doubted that I was in this world or on the Cauldron. Can't wait to see what happens in book 2!
May 8, 2014
A supremely innovative YA space-Opera that transcends boundaries with extraordinary vision
J A Southard’s idiosyncratic sci-fi story encapsulates the eccentricity of the genre, with a contemporary milieu that targets the 21st Century readership. The remarkable concept of HIVE QUEEN was truly inspired and well conceived, due to the depth and detail (regarding background history, rules/ traditions etc.) that the author delves into. Capturing perfectly on the page all the elements within a typical Young Adult novel you would expect to find, including sparkling romance and teenage dramas, the author has evidently produced a masterful debut. Containing cool feminist undertones and a healthy dose of teen angst, many readers will be able to relate and connect on a personal level to the spunky main protagonist and truth-drawing narrative.
‘Queen and Commander’ is reminiscent of FIREFLY for YA readers, as it balances spectacular world building with character depth for a convincing, credible outcome. Unprepared, impulsive and naïve the cast of ‘real’ characters were simply fantastic and so made the story seem more authentic and easy to envisage. Told in a refreshing voice, J A Southard’s addictive first instalment (in a series) was an engrossing, unputdownable read of scope and creativity. Gwyn and Victor’s magnetic relationship wrought with such impassioned intensity melted my heart, as too did many of the other outlandish and rather quirky, spunky characters! It is the main protagonist’s flaws and vulnerability that pulled me into the plot, and made me care about what happened so as to leave me on tenterhooks for book 2.
Containing elements akin to Divergent the multilayered, intricately woven narrative was beguiling and will undoubtedly catch the attention of any YA Sci-fi fan. Cymraeg (Welsh language) was a twist of the unexpected, as too were many other intriguing ideas and metaphorical lyricism that made the story so different from the norm! J A Southard’s incredibly ambitious, imaginative debut novel was an entertaining read that reminded me why I love Space Opera’s and the Young Adult genres so much.
*I would like to thank the author for providing me with a copy of her novel to read & provide an honest and non-biased review on.
J A Southard’s idiosyncratic sci-fi story encapsulates the eccentricity of the genre, with a contemporary milieu that targets the 21st Century readership. The remarkable concept of HIVE QUEEN was truly inspired and well conceived, due to the depth and detail (regarding background history, rules/ traditions etc.) that the author delves into. Capturing perfectly on the page all the elements within a typical Young Adult novel you would expect to find, including sparkling romance and teenage dramas, the author has evidently produced a masterful debut. Containing cool feminist undertones and a healthy dose of teen angst, many readers will be able to relate and connect on a personal level to the spunky main protagonist and truth-drawing narrative.
‘Queen and Commander’ is reminiscent of FIREFLY for YA readers, as it balances spectacular world building with character depth for a convincing, credible outcome. Unprepared, impulsive and naïve the cast of ‘real’ characters were simply fantastic and so made the story seem more authentic and easy to envisage. Told in a refreshing voice, J A Southard’s addictive first instalment (in a series) was an engrossing, unputdownable read of scope and creativity. Gwyn and Victor’s magnetic relationship wrought with such impassioned intensity melted my heart, as too did many of the other outlandish and rather quirky, spunky characters! It is the main protagonist’s flaws and vulnerability that pulled me into the plot, and made me care about what happened so as to leave me on tenterhooks for book 2.
Containing elements akin to Divergent the multilayered, intricately woven narrative was beguiling and will undoubtedly catch the attention of any YA Sci-fi fan. Cymraeg (Welsh language) was a twist of the unexpected, as too were many other intriguing ideas and metaphorical lyricism that made the story so different from the norm! J A Southard’s incredibly ambitious, imaginative debut novel was an entertaining read that reminded me why I love Space Opera’s and the Young Adult genres so much.
*I would like to thank the author for providing me with a copy of her novel to read & provide an honest and non-biased review on.
December 21, 2020
1.5 stars rounded up.
This is a "it's not the book, it's me" situation. This was a lot more YA than what I usually read, so that probably inflected my reactions to this book.
In general, the worldbuilding was pretty vague and the Hive system, and its history, was never fully explained in a way that I found satisfying. I also found the characters a little too...underdeveloped. There was a plot, but it felt a bit slipshod.
This is a "it's not the book, it's me" situation. This was a lot more YA than what I usually read, so that probably inflected my reactions to this book.
In general, the worldbuilding was pretty vague and the Hive system, and its history, was never fully explained in a way that I found satisfying. I also found the characters a little too...underdeveloped. There was a plot, but it felt a bit slipshod.
June 29, 2014
I received a copy of this book to review for my stop on the blog tour at Donnie Darko Girl.
Queen & Commander is a novel that has everything I love about science fiction - action, drama, great characters, and romance. Each character is fully his or her own person with individual characteristics, both positive and negative just like people possess in real life. And just like in real life, sometimes their personalities didn't mesh well, lending great drama and conflict to the story.
I was so nervous for this group setting out on this adventure! They're so young and such a loosely formed Hive with secrets to keep and much could go wrong. Here's a breakdown of how I felt about the characters:
Rhiannon - She was my favorite character, and her best friend, Gwyn, was a close second. I admired the sacrifice she made for her friend and couldn't imagine anyone else as Queen. She was young when her mother died and ended up clinging tightly to Gwyn. It made perfect sense to me why she sacrificed her own plans to help Gwyn. She yearned for what she had lost when her mother died. She made a wonderful Queen. I adore her.
Gwyn & Victor - Ah, I love stories with forbidden lovers! Don't you? These two make a fabulous pair, and I rooted for them all the way. They have a lot to face - the stress of keeping their relationship a secret, doubts they have of staying in love, and normal couple issues that crop up.
Gavin - My third favorite character, Gavin is deliciously eccentric and provides comic relief during those times when the situation gets too intense. He couldn't be more different than the other characters - he's had different life experiences.
Luciano - I felt bad for him because he was so in love with Rhiannon, but those feelings weren't reciprocated. I feared a bit for his sanity when he found out the true situation after meeting everyone on the ship. It had to have been a shock to find out he wasn't going to live the way he previously thought.
Alan - I found him annoying yet admired his intelligence and sharp wit. He's confident to the point of arrogance, and I enjoyed the banter between him and Rhiannon.
The dynamics of the group were fabulously written. This Hive is brand-new and young, and since two members were brought on without a clue as to the plan that had been hatched, things realistically became complicated. Their personalities clashed at times, especially, in my opinion, Alan's because he's just such a know-it-all.
I'm excited to find out what happens next because these were characters that I didn't want to leave behind when I reached the last page.
Queen & Commander is a novel that has everything I love about science fiction - action, drama, great characters, and romance. Each character is fully his or her own person with individual characteristics, both positive and negative just like people possess in real life. And just like in real life, sometimes their personalities didn't mesh well, lending great drama and conflict to the story.
I was so nervous for this group setting out on this adventure! They're so young and such a loosely formed Hive with secrets to keep and much could go wrong. Here's a breakdown of how I felt about the characters:
Rhiannon - She was my favorite character, and her best friend, Gwyn, was a close second. I admired the sacrifice she made for her friend and couldn't imagine anyone else as Queen. She was young when her mother died and ended up clinging tightly to Gwyn. It made perfect sense to me why she sacrificed her own plans to help Gwyn. She yearned for what she had lost when her mother died. She made a wonderful Queen. I adore her.
Gwyn & Victor - Ah, I love stories with forbidden lovers! Don't you? These two make a fabulous pair, and I rooted for them all the way. They have a lot to face - the stress of keeping their relationship a secret, doubts they have of staying in love, and normal couple issues that crop up.
Gavin - My third favorite character, Gavin is deliciously eccentric and provides comic relief during those times when the situation gets too intense. He couldn't be more different than the other characters - he's had different life experiences.
Luciano - I felt bad for him because he was so in love with Rhiannon, but those feelings weren't reciprocated. I feared a bit for his sanity when he found out the true situation after meeting everyone on the ship. It had to have been a shock to find out he wasn't going to live the way he previously thought.
Alan - I found him annoying yet admired his intelligence and sharp wit. He's confident to the point of arrogance, and I enjoyed the banter between him and Rhiannon.
The dynamics of the group were fabulously written. This Hive is brand-new and young, and since two members were brought on without a clue as to the plan that had been hatched, things realistically became complicated. Their personalities clashed at times, especially, in my opinion, Alan's because he's just such a know-it-all.
I'm excited to find out what happens next because these were characters that I didn't want to leave behind when I reached the last page.
April 5, 2013
A solid start to an intriguing series. This book features some great characters, who inhabit a fascinating, well thought out future universe. They’re teenagers, but not the dumb, one-dimensional twits that seem to populate most YA novels. They make poor decisions sometimes, but they’re also driven, planning their futures but not sure of the results, trying to find their place in the world.
It just happens to be a very big world, where growing up needs to be done very fast, and failure often carries lethal consequences.
Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys good sci-fi. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
It just happens to be a very big world, where growing up needs to be done very fast, and failure often carries lethal consequences.
Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys good sci-fi. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
July 27, 2014
I was a little iffy on whether or not I would enjoy this book purely based on the synopsis. Books with multiple character perspectives are rarely done well; I tend to get jolted whenever the point-of-view switches. However, Janine Southard does a great job differentiating all of the characters and making clear what is going on in the story. The plot was engaging and the story left me wanting more. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am searching the internet for where I can buy the next book in the saga.
April 1, 2017
YA space opera. I really liked the first half of the book. The characters were interesting, and the society wasn't just a duplicate of something I had already read about. The second half was more difficult to suspend disbelief. The ending is definitely "to be continued". Overall I would rate it about 3.5 stars.
December 11, 2018
Good concept, badly in need of an editor. Charming enough to keep reading if I don't have anything better handy. (It lives on my phone, so could theoretically be finished someday.)
June 24, 2014
4.5 out of 5
**I received this book as an ARC from Xpresso Book Tours to read & review. This is a 100% honest review.**
This is probably one of my favourite space themed books ever. It's up there with Beth Revis' Across The Universe. I think the most accurate way to describe this book is it's like Joss Whedon's Firefly but for teenagers. The whole idea behind the book, of having this hive like community is really interesting and well written. It's a fun, easy read that will have you dreaming of the stars.
Queen & Commander follows a group of unorthodox teenagers as they try to carve they're own futures. The rules of society says that on a ship you have a Queen and that Queen has her Devotees. They swear their allegiance to her and they'll do anything she requires of them and in return she will make them part of her Hive. Part of her family. However, Devotees are all male. That's the rule and breaking it isn't worth thinking about. That is until Rhiannon puts her Hive together so that her best friend Gwyn can stay with her boyfriend Victor. Not a single member of this crew has any training when it comes to running a ship. They'll learn as they go along. But maybe the rules are there for a reason?
I really admired Rhiannon throughout this book. She's only 16 and yet she's strong and determined. She knows what she wants and she'll do anything she has to go get it. There was also this venerability to her that I think a lot of YA readers will really connect with as well as a strength that the reader can look up to.
I just want to take a moment to appreciate Alan. He's brilliant and he knows it. He had me smiling and shaking my head at times but overall he has to be my favourite character from the whole book and I can't wait to read more about him in Hive & Heist. He's a bit of an arse but I love him.
However much I love this book there was one big problem. This book has THE MOST FRUSTRATING ENDING EVER! Queen & Commander is a ridiculously good read. It was well written and humours and had a story line that rivalled and episode of Firefly (I think I've already said that). The only reason I'm not giving it 5/5 is because it went and did the only thing it could that would ruin it for me and that was give it a sodding cliffhanger. Okay, so maybe it wasn't the worst cliffhanger I've ever read but there were SO many things left up in the air. What about the Queens?? Where is the ship? Are they going to get in trouble because of Gwyn??
Saying all that though it doesn't change that fact that I adored this book. The character's all had their own unique voices and the use of third person to tell the story gave the reader a whole spectrum of information that made reading Queen & Commander really rather intriguing. I recommend this book completely! But if I had one little tip, make sure you have book two, Hive & Heist, on stand by for when you've finished. I can't tell you anything about book two because I haven't read it yet but if it's anything like this instalment we won't be disappointed.
**I received this book as an ARC from Xpresso Book Tours to read & review. This is a 100% honest review.**
This is probably one of my favourite space themed books ever. It's up there with Beth Revis' Across The Universe. I think the most accurate way to describe this book is it's like Joss Whedon's Firefly but for teenagers. The whole idea behind the book, of having this hive like community is really interesting and well written. It's a fun, easy read that will have you dreaming of the stars.
Queen & Commander follows a group of unorthodox teenagers as they try to carve they're own futures. The rules of society says that on a ship you have a Queen and that Queen has her Devotees. They swear their allegiance to her and they'll do anything she requires of them and in return she will make them part of her Hive. Part of her family. However, Devotees are all male. That's the rule and breaking it isn't worth thinking about. That is until Rhiannon puts her Hive together so that her best friend Gwyn can stay with her boyfriend Victor. Not a single member of this crew has any training when it comes to running a ship. They'll learn as they go along. But maybe the rules are there for a reason?
I really admired Rhiannon throughout this book. She's only 16 and yet she's strong and determined. She knows what she wants and she'll do anything she has to go get it. There was also this venerability to her that I think a lot of YA readers will really connect with as well as a strength that the reader can look up to.
I just want to take a moment to appreciate Alan. He's brilliant and he knows it. He had me smiling and shaking my head at times but overall he has to be my favourite character from the whole book and I can't wait to read more about him in Hive & Heist. He's a bit of an arse but I love him.
However much I love this book there was one big problem. This book has THE MOST FRUSTRATING ENDING EVER! Queen & Commander is a ridiculously good read. It was well written and humours and had a story line that rivalled and episode of Firefly (I think I've already said that). The only reason I'm not giving it 5/5 is because it went and did the only thing it could that would ruin it for me and that was give it a sodding cliffhanger. Okay, so maybe it wasn't the worst cliffhanger I've ever read but there were SO many things left up in the air. What about the Queens?? Where is the ship? Are they going to get in trouble because of Gwyn??
Saying all that though it doesn't change that fact that I adored this book. The character's all had their own unique voices and the use of third person to tell the story gave the reader a whole spectrum of information that made reading Queen & Commander really rather intriguing. I recommend this book completely! But if I had one little tip, make sure you have book two, Hive & Heist, on stand by for when you've finished. I can't tell you anything about book two because I haven't read it yet but if it's anything like this instalment we won't be disappointed.
June 26, 2014
**Spoiler free review**
I went in to this book with very high expectations as it is right up my alley and for the most part, I was rewarded. This is the first book in what is promised to be a series and as such, fulfils all of those requirements. It lays all of the foundation for the coming sweeping space opera in the best possible way, explaining details with only occasional lecturing tone. I made it through about the first third of the story nodding and along for the ride, questioning very little.
What I did question was the interjection of Welsh in to the text, albeit an infrequent injection. For me, I am familiar with Welsh so I was able to ‘say’ the words in my head for the most part and I am more than willing to just gloss over the ones I can’t. I’m flexible like that. Welsh is a hard language and that could deter people which would be a shame since this is actually a really promising story.
Back to when I stopped being along for the ride. There comes a point in the plot where you can see that this entire affair is going to implode in the worst possible way and you are powerless to stop it. I hit that point and then was more than along for the ride, I was committed to the story, to the character and to their plight. How could they ever fix this? To me, an outsider, the solution was pretty obvious but the characters…
They are flawed like actual people and that makes them both hard to read and easy to relate to. Too often, writers ‘fix’ their characters early on and it makes the subsequent stories feel like The Mildly Difficult Adventures of Perfect People. I’m glad that this novel didn’t go that route and frustrated as well which is actually a very good thing. All in all
I went in to this book with very high expectations as it is right up my alley and for the most part, I was rewarded. This is the first book in what is promised to be a series and as such, fulfils all of those requirements. It lays all of the foundation for the coming sweeping space opera in the best possible way, explaining details with only occasional lecturing tone. I made it through about the first third of the story nodding and along for the ride, questioning very little.
What I did question was the interjection of Welsh in to the text, albeit an infrequent injection. For me, I am familiar with Welsh so I was able to ‘say’ the words in my head for the most part and I am more than willing to just gloss over the ones I can’t. I’m flexible like that. Welsh is a hard language and that could deter people which would be a shame since this is actually a really promising story.
Back to when I stopped being along for the ride. There comes a point in the plot where you can see that this entire affair is going to implode in the worst possible way and you are powerless to stop it. I hit that point and then was more than along for the ride, I was committed to the story, to the character and to their plight. How could they ever fix this? To me, an outsider, the solution was pretty obvious but the characters…
They are flawed like actual people and that makes them both hard to read and easy to relate to. Too often, writers ‘fix’ their characters early on and it makes the subsequent stories feel like The Mildly Difficult Adventures of Perfect People. I’m glad that this novel didn’t go that route and frustrated as well which is actually a very good thing. All in all
May 5, 2013
In a world where Queens rule and their Devoted men follow their orders – Rhiannon manages to beat the system. She gets the results from the test that she wants and is now Queen and Commander. So when her best friend comes to her in need help there’s nothing Rhiannon wouldn’t do to assist. Even if it means forming a mismatched group (a Hive) to run a spaceship. Sounds a little kooky? It may be but somehow it just works.
I loved the antics of Rhiannon and her Hive. There’s the forbidden lovers, Victor and Gwyn, who are willing to leave everything they’ve ever known for a chance to be together. Gavin is an off-worlder who grew up in the theatre and is prone to start sprouting play lines at the drop of a hat. Alan is brilliant but can’t make it in proper society. Luciano has risen above his standings and is now set to become a doctor but instead of formally continuing his studies he follows his devotion for Rhiannon and becomes a member of their band of misfits. And then there’s Rhiannon. She’s always dreamed of becoming a Queen and Commander – and she got there. But sometimes dreams never turn out quite as you imagined. But Rhiannon is there for her Hive and determined to be the best she can be.
The Dyfed way of life is somewhat based on Welsh Society and I thought that was a fascinating concept. There are words used that I’d never heard before but thankfully they were translated for me or I’d have spent half this novel googling them and been taken out of the world that the story creates. I thought the Hive idea to be interesting and whilst I loved how much attention was paid to Rhiannon and her Hive – I didn’t quite understand how this society worked. I would have liked to have seen a little more detail regarding how their society actually functions – especially for those without ships.
Queen & Commander has a lot going for it. The characters are ones I wanted to read more about and find out just what was going to happen next. The plot progresses at a great speed with plenty going on both relationship wise and with regards to action and drama. I can only imagine how the characters and plot are going to evolve in the second instalment of the Hive Queen Saga.
I loved the antics of Rhiannon and her Hive. There’s the forbidden lovers, Victor and Gwyn, who are willing to leave everything they’ve ever known for a chance to be together. Gavin is an off-worlder who grew up in the theatre and is prone to start sprouting play lines at the drop of a hat. Alan is brilliant but can’t make it in proper society. Luciano has risen above his standings and is now set to become a doctor but instead of formally continuing his studies he follows his devotion for Rhiannon and becomes a member of their band of misfits. And then there’s Rhiannon. She’s always dreamed of becoming a Queen and Commander – and she got there. But sometimes dreams never turn out quite as you imagined. But Rhiannon is there for her Hive and determined to be the best she can be.
The Dyfed way of life is somewhat based on Welsh Society and I thought that was a fascinating concept. There are words used that I’d never heard before but thankfully they were translated for me or I’d have spent half this novel googling them and been taken out of the world that the story creates. I thought the Hive idea to be interesting and whilst I loved how much attention was paid to Rhiannon and her Hive – I didn’t quite understand how this society worked. I would have liked to have seen a little more detail regarding how their society actually functions – especially for those without ships.
Queen & Commander has a lot going for it. The characters are ones I wanted to read more about and find out just what was going to happen next. The plot progresses at a great speed with plenty going on both relationship wise and with regards to action and drama. I can only imagine how the characters and plot are going to evolve in the second instalment of the Hive Queen Saga.
May 3, 2013
A group of teenagers, having tested and discovered the career paths society has chosen for them, decide to form their own Hive (around the one of their group who tested as "Hive Queen & Commander") and forgo a formal education (which would split them up) and opt for the education of experience. They manage to get command of a courier spaceship and set off on adventure.
Appealing characters and brisk pacing are the highlights of this YA sci-fi yarn. While they are basically archetypal teens (the brain, the actor, the foreign-exchange student, the layabout, the girlfriend, and the girl who wants to please everybody), Southard does give them enough character to maintain the reader's interest in them.
But...I found myself at a disadvantage as the world of Dyfed is based on Welsh society and mythology--something I know practically nothing about. The author didn't take any pains to explain any of the concepts the book was based on; I did look up some of the repeated terms and names, but found that for a YA novel meant to be an afternoon's reading, I was spending more time trying to figure out what was being said then reading the book. While I understand "The Hive" concept of society, I have no idea what purpose it serves on Dyfed (unless Hives are the only ones allowed to crew spaceships; sounds silly, but I don't know...) and why the planet evolved with this approach. The story could've used a little more background.
Still, the book has it's undeniable charms, and Rhiannon Jones is an intriguing character (I was hoping to get some connection between her and Olivia Jones, the previous captain of the Cerdiwan's Cauldron--maybe that's for a later book, or wasn't even contemplated at all). I can't say whether or not I'll read the second book, but I can recommend this one for fans of YA sci-fi, provided that you are familiar with Welsh mythology.
Appealing characters and brisk pacing are the highlights of this YA sci-fi yarn. While they are basically archetypal teens (the brain, the actor, the foreign-exchange student, the layabout, the girlfriend, and the girl who wants to please everybody), Southard does give them enough character to maintain the reader's interest in them.
But...I found myself at a disadvantage as the world of Dyfed is based on Welsh society and mythology--something I know practically nothing about. The author didn't take any pains to explain any of the concepts the book was based on; I did look up some of the repeated terms and names, but found that for a YA novel meant to be an afternoon's reading, I was spending more time trying to figure out what was being said then reading the book. While I understand "The Hive" concept of society, I have no idea what purpose it serves on Dyfed (unless Hives are the only ones allowed to crew spaceships; sounds silly, but I don't know...) and why the planet evolved with this approach. The story could've used a little more background.
Still, the book has it's undeniable charms, and Rhiannon Jones is an intriguing character (I was hoping to get some connection between her and Olivia Jones, the previous captain of the Cerdiwan's Cauldron--maybe that's for a later book, or wasn't even contemplated at all). I can't say whether or not I'll read the second book, but I can recommend this one for fans of YA sci-fi, provided that you are familiar with Welsh mythology.
May 27, 2013
This was an enjoyable first book in a series I look forward to continuing. However, as an occasional reader of the YA genre, I also found some basic elements of the story quite different from what I am accustomed to. Instead of a cast of teenaged characters who are inexplicably skilled for their age or unbelievably lucky, Southard's characters are more like REAL teenagers who are often unprepared, impulsive, and naive, but also determined and doing their best to make things work. They are flawed and exasperating, yet each had good qualities that had me rooting for them.
Likewise, this is quite obviously one book in a trilogy comprising one epic storyline, which is quite different from the now-common format of three separate, epic, 500 page stories following the same cast of characters, but with a conclusion at the end of each book. Southard's writing is fast-paced and while I didn't mind the story ending in more of a "to be continued" format (on the contrary, it fit the story very well), it was a bit of a surprise to reach the end of the book without all the filler and fluff I'm used to.
That said, after having some time to digest, I find these differences refreshing and fun. The world is fascinating and I hope we get even more depth in future books in the series.
Also, Queen Olivia is totally cool! Really looking forward to more of her in the next books! :D
Likewise, this is quite obviously one book in a trilogy comprising one epic storyline, which is quite different from the now-common format of three separate, epic, 500 page stories following the same cast of characters, but with a conclusion at the end of each book. Southard's writing is fast-paced and while I didn't mind the story ending in more of a "to be continued" format (on the contrary, it fit the story very well), it was a bit of a surprise to reach the end of the book without all the filler and fluff I'm used to.
That said, after having some time to digest, I find these differences refreshing and fun. The world is fascinating and I hope we get even more depth in future books in the series.
Also, Queen Olivia is totally cool! Really looking forward to more of her in the next books! :D
September 5, 2015
Excellent. Just alien enough so you know the characters aren't exactly human. Just human enough to know they are descendants of human beings. There is a subtle humor throughout, e.g., the American space station is named after John Wayne (love it), helped by a somewhat exagerated sense of naivety. Great attention to detail really puts the reader in the scene. Sending young adults into space by themselves with no training ... zero ... on how to run a spaceship seems implausible, but the author makes it work. There's squabbles and young love and fawning and rivalry and humility and accepting responsibility for one's actions and a socially awkward genius and a thespian and an Italian and intrigue and danger and self-sacrifice. I finished it in two days. I really enjoyed it and hope the next one is longer.
May 16, 2023
I'm rounding down to two stars. I want to give this a higher rating for being an interesting story, but it never quite makes it past fair to find its way to being decent enough to do so. The story is interesting and the world is kind of interesting. I dig that the dominant culture is of neo-pagan Welsh derivation (if leaning a bit too Welsh-supremacist for my comfort). But I don't believe in the characters nor in their relationships and that's literally what the book is about. The story would grip me occasionally, but then it would discuss the characters and I'd fall back out of it.
June 23, 2014
Queen & Commander was an alright read. When I first saw the blurb for the book, I just knew I had to read it. The first time I saw it, I forgot the name, which killed me because I spent ages trying to find the book but to no avail. However, one day I saw an email saying blog tour signups for this and Hive & Heist, the second book, was open. I may have freaked out a little heh. Still, after reading the book, while it was very good, I fear it may have been slightly short of the high standards in my head. It could be just me though.
The concept of the world, with Dyfed, its Hives is fascinating, albeit a little confusing. I would have appreciated a little bit more backstory about how all these worlds came about, rather than just trying to infer from the bits and snippets that I got. Why was space travel necessary? Why did it seem like everyone was living on space stations of some sort? But I must say, I’m thoroughly intrigued by how everything functions in society. The ideas behind the story is very interesting to read about.
As for the characters, they were interesting enough. It was nice seeing how 6 people came together as a whole Hive and got through some problems together. Though they had many issues, you see how they learn to live with each other. Though there is not much teamwork here, I do like how it’s realistic and not the instant bond that a lot of other teams seem to have.
I really respect Rhiannon. She is so smart and I don’t know, I like that she isn’t cocky about it. Its like, she knows she’s good, but she also acknowledges that she has weaknesses and finds people to counter the weaknesses she has. I don’t know, I just really like her. She didn’t really want to go on the whole journey, but for Gwyn, she did it, and in so doing, I loved her dedication, even though at first it was a little reluctant.
One thing that I didn’t like a lot was the writing style. It was alright, but sometimes something just felt a little bit off, perhaps it seemed more like I was being told rather than showed. Still, this is my personal preference. Somehow, there always seemed to be a wall between the characters and me which prevented me from being fully engaged with the story.
Still, I really did enjoy the book and I really like reading about the characters. I just really want to see how things play out, whether they will eventually come together as a Hive or will it all just fall apart. I think this book has a very unique concept. I am curious though, why Hives, what made them that way? Who made them that way? Oh, I have many questions certainly, but I think I can wait patiently (somewhat, okay no I don’t think I can!) for the answers in the following books.
Disclaimer: I was provided with a free copy of this book for an honest review. All views expressed here are mine alone.
The concept of the world, with Dyfed, its Hives is fascinating, albeit a little confusing. I would have appreciated a little bit more backstory about how all these worlds came about, rather than just trying to infer from the bits and snippets that I got. Why was space travel necessary? Why did it seem like everyone was living on space stations of some sort? But I must say, I’m thoroughly intrigued by how everything functions in society. The ideas behind the story is very interesting to read about.
As for the characters, they were interesting enough. It was nice seeing how 6 people came together as a whole Hive and got through some problems together. Though they had many issues, you see how they learn to live with each other. Though there is not much teamwork here, I do like how it’s realistic and not the instant bond that a lot of other teams seem to have.
I really respect Rhiannon. She is so smart and I don’t know, I like that she isn’t cocky about it. Its like, she knows she’s good, but she also acknowledges that she has weaknesses and finds people to counter the weaknesses she has. I don’t know, I just really like her. She didn’t really want to go on the whole journey, but for Gwyn, she did it, and in so doing, I loved her dedication, even though at first it was a little reluctant.
One thing that I didn’t like a lot was the writing style. It was alright, but sometimes something just felt a little bit off, perhaps it seemed more like I was being told rather than showed. Still, this is my personal preference. Somehow, there always seemed to be a wall between the characters and me which prevented me from being fully engaged with the story.
Still, I really did enjoy the book and I really like reading about the characters. I just really want to see how things play out, whether they will eventually come together as a Hive or will it all just fall apart. I think this book has a very unique concept. I am curious though, why Hives, what made them that way? Who made them that way? Oh, I have many questions certainly, but I think I can wait patiently (somewhat, okay no I don’t think I can!) for the answers in the following books.
Disclaimer: I was provided with a free copy of this book for an honest review. All views expressed here are mine alone.
June 23, 2014
I would like to thank the author for providing me a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Receiving such does not sway my thoughts in any way.
I enjoy science fiction, having read from authors such as Jack McDevitt, Beth Revis, etc. This book ranks right up there with those authors. I have to say that this book is in a neck to neck competition with Across the Universe by Ms. Revis. Spaceships, confusion, betrayal, hierarchy and kidnapping all wrapped up in this book and delivered to the reader in a way that I just couldn't put it down. I read from beginning to end, breaking myself away only when I had to.
The crew are all smarter than they appear at times and given that, sometimes they are also too smart for their own good. Rhiannon, who outsmarted the tests, is destined to be a Queen Commander. Her best friend and her friends boyfriend tested in a way that would take them from one another. Rhiannon, in a way was coerced into putting together a Hive that would keep them together, but would take the groups destined schooling away, and put them all in jeopardy.
Being the first book in a series and a scifi one at that, there is always the fear that too much of the book is going to be backstories and very little present time. Thankfully, that is not the story with this book. As the story progresses, you get the info you need at the moment, and it keeps on moving. When a situation arises, that requires further information from the past, the author provides just what you need, and lets it go at that. Not only does this allow the story to progress with a normal flow, it also doesn't distract you from the current storyline.
There is some unrealistic aspects to the story though. Basically going in blind and being able to maneuver and fly a spacecraft with no past experience and not taking half the side of a docking station off with it, or flying into other spacecraft was a bit unbelievable. I can understand getting the feel of it after all that, but not before. And the fact that being such a young Queen, with such a young crew, that more people didn't take notice was curious.
Once you get past the peculiarities, the story itself takes you for a ride. The conflicts between the crew. The Queen learning how to be just that and learning how to have her Hive confident in her. The engineering issues, the Devotes relationship with the Queen, the passenger that stirs up troubles and more just keep the reader focused and the page flipping commences.
A strong science fiction novel that will hold the interest of all scifi readers, young and old, and is guaranteed to make some non genre readers converts. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Hive & Heist, and I look forward to reading other books from this author.
I enjoy science fiction, having read from authors such as Jack McDevitt, Beth Revis, etc. This book ranks right up there with those authors. I have to say that this book is in a neck to neck competition with Across the Universe by Ms. Revis. Spaceships, confusion, betrayal, hierarchy and kidnapping all wrapped up in this book and delivered to the reader in a way that I just couldn't put it down. I read from beginning to end, breaking myself away only when I had to.
The crew are all smarter than they appear at times and given that, sometimes they are also too smart for their own good. Rhiannon, who outsmarted the tests, is destined to be a Queen Commander. Her best friend and her friends boyfriend tested in a way that would take them from one another. Rhiannon, in a way was coerced into putting together a Hive that would keep them together, but would take the groups destined schooling away, and put them all in jeopardy.
Being the first book in a series and a scifi one at that, there is always the fear that too much of the book is going to be backstories and very little present time. Thankfully, that is not the story with this book. As the story progresses, you get the info you need at the moment, and it keeps on moving. When a situation arises, that requires further information from the past, the author provides just what you need, and lets it go at that. Not only does this allow the story to progress with a normal flow, it also doesn't distract you from the current storyline.
There is some unrealistic aspects to the story though. Basically going in blind and being able to maneuver and fly a spacecraft with no past experience and not taking half the side of a docking station off with it, or flying into other spacecraft was a bit unbelievable. I can understand getting the feel of it after all that, but not before. And the fact that being such a young Queen, with such a young crew, that more people didn't take notice was curious.
Once you get past the peculiarities, the story itself takes you for a ride. The conflicts between the crew. The Queen learning how to be just that and learning how to have her Hive confident in her. The engineering issues, the Devotes relationship with the Queen, the passenger that stirs up troubles and more just keep the reader focused and the page flipping commences.
A strong science fiction novel that will hold the interest of all scifi readers, young and old, and is guaranteed to make some non genre readers converts. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Hive & Heist, and I look forward to reading other books from this author.
July 12, 2014
Received ARC in exchange for an honest review via the publisher via Netgalley.
I read the synopsis of this book and I just fell right in love with it and the cover too, that is probably not always a good idea but
I am liking it so far. I have always been a fan of science fiction/ types of books and I love how this world kind of reminds me of Star Trek and also the Testing series books but I am definitely lost in some of the events that have so far happened. I do not understand what Queens do and why do hive crewmembers have to do an elaborate pledge of devotion to their queens. There is also some of the language that they speak;which I do not get what they are saying. The one thing that makes me happy is that there is description in what everything looks like on the planet. I get that being a Queen and a commander is a prestigious thing and that the planet they are on has people in desperate need of money and stuff but still it does not make much sense.
The Characters/ Rhiannon's crew:
By far right now my favorite character is Rhiannon because she is super smart and is trying to not let anyone but her control her life. I really really really dislike Gwyn and Victor (equally dislike them both) because Victor is just cares only about himself and keeping him and Gwyn together. I almost think that Victor is a controlling boyfriend and that Gwyn should stand up to him. Victor is clearly using Gwyn's relationship with Rhiannon to get what he wants, which I hate. Rhiannon has a really good future ahead of her and she has to ruin it just to make Gwyn happy ( which I think that it would be better if Gwyn just split up with Victor). My view on Gavin right now is that I do not know much about him but I think that he is just like Victor, wants to get off the planet and will do whatever/use whatever means necessary to accomplish it. Luciano reminds me of a puppy who will follow Rhiannon anywhere she goes and Alan is not as devoted to Rhiannon but he at least does not have a twisted motive to go and join her crew.
Overall I did like this but I just wish that there had been more explanation to how things worked on Dyfed and what was the use of Queens and the Devoted. I still dislike Gwyn and Victor because everything could have been resolved if they were not in love with each other.
I read the synopsis of this book and I just fell right in love with it and the cover too, that is probably not always a good idea but
I am liking it so far. I have always been a fan of science fiction/ types of books and I love how this world kind of reminds me of Star Trek and also the Testing series books but I am definitely lost in some of the events that have so far happened. I do not understand what Queens do and why do hive crewmembers have to do an elaborate pledge of devotion to their queens. There is also some of the language that they speak;which I do not get what they are saying. The one thing that makes me happy is that there is description in what everything looks like on the planet. I get that being a Queen and a commander is a prestigious thing and that the planet they are on has people in desperate need of money and stuff but still it does not make much sense.
The Characters/ Rhiannon's crew:
By far right now my favorite character is Rhiannon because she is super smart and is trying to not let anyone but her control her life. I really really really dislike Gwyn and Victor (equally dislike them both) because Victor is just cares only about himself and keeping him and Gwyn together. I almost think that Victor is a controlling boyfriend and that Gwyn should stand up to him. Victor is clearly using Gwyn's relationship with Rhiannon to get what he wants, which I hate. Rhiannon has a really good future ahead of her and she has to ruin it just to make Gwyn happy ( which I think that it would be better if Gwyn just split up with Victor). My view on Gavin right now is that I do not know much about him but I think that he is just like Victor, wants to get off the planet and will do whatever/use whatever means necessary to accomplish it. Luciano reminds me of a puppy who will follow Rhiannon anywhere she goes and Alan is not as devoted to Rhiannon but he at least does not have a twisted motive to go and join her crew.
Overall I did like this but I just wish that there had been more explanation to how things worked on Dyfed and what was the use of Queens and the Devoted. I still dislike Gwyn and Victor because everything could have been resolved if they were not in love with each other.
July 8, 2014
Rhiannon is a Perceiver who is set on choosing her own future. She knows what she wants to be in society, and that is a Queen. Queens are revered, they are highly regarded, and they have opportunities that she would probably not have otherwise. So when she gets the amazing news that she indeed has succeeded in choosing her future, Rhiannon is ecstatic. Her life is officially set. Or is it?
Rhiannon will be confronted by her best friend Gwyn and Gwyn's boyfriend Victor with a plan to keep the two lovebirds together. They will ask her to sacrifice her future for their happiness. Choosing to do this, to go against the system, could possibly put them on a path of no return. They might not ever be able to come back.
Along with Gwyn, Rhiannon, and Victor, this story also focuses on three other characters. Luciano, a hard worker who supports his family and is trying to give his sister the best chance in life she can get; Alan, an inventor of sorts who just wants a Queen who can respect him and the potential of his work; and Gavin, a dreamer and actress' son who wants to leave the Dyfed system. This story is a journey of self-discovery for all of them, and they will have to rely on each other if they want to survive.
I can very honestly say that I have not read a book quite like this one before, and I will probably not read a book quite like it again. It was actually quite phenomenal in the story aspect and the characters were all so different. They all want to respect the Hive, but they each have their own personalities, which at times do clash. They have their own ideals for how Rhiannon herself should act as a Queen, and sometimes I felt for her because most of the pressure was on her. I think they sometimes forgot that she was learning to be a Queen just as they too were learning their own roles. This story also allows us to see a crack in their society. Someone is starting to kidnap Queens, but we do not yet know their intentions or even who they are. What are they trying to start? A war? Well, they could very well succeed.
This was a wonderful, wonderful read, and I am definitely a fan. This first book was a great start to a saga that I cannot wait to finish.
Rhiannon will be confronted by her best friend Gwyn and Gwyn's boyfriend Victor with a plan to keep the two lovebirds together. They will ask her to sacrifice her future for their happiness. Choosing to do this, to go against the system, could possibly put them on a path of no return. They might not ever be able to come back.
Along with Gwyn, Rhiannon, and Victor, this story also focuses on three other characters. Luciano, a hard worker who supports his family and is trying to give his sister the best chance in life she can get; Alan, an inventor of sorts who just wants a Queen who can respect him and the potential of his work; and Gavin, a dreamer and actress' son who wants to leave the Dyfed system. This story is a journey of self-discovery for all of them, and they will have to rely on each other if they want to survive.
I can very honestly say that I have not read a book quite like this one before, and I will probably not read a book quite like it again. It was actually quite phenomenal in the story aspect and the characters were all so different. They all want to respect the Hive, but they each have their own personalities, which at times do clash. They have their own ideals for how Rhiannon herself should act as a Queen, and sometimes I felt for her because most of the pressure was on her. I think they sometimes forgot that she was learning to be a Queen just as they too were learning their own roles. This story also allows us to see a crack in their society. Someone is starting to kidnap Queens, but we do not yet know their intentions or even who they are. What are they trying to start? A war? Well, they could very well succeed.
This was a wonderful, wonderful read, and I am definitely a fan. This first book was a great start to a saga that I cannot wait to finish.
June 26, 2014
3.5 stars
What a fascinating story! Coming from someone who has spent twenty years reading sci-fi novels, it should really mean something when I say that it was a unique twist on a classic story. The story is pretty standard space travel, but the very nature of the societal roles takes the story to a whole new level.
The whole story pivots around Rhiannon. She is the group’s queen, although she isn’t exactly your standard monarch. She’s more like the queen of a bee hive, and the other members of her hive have a unique connection with her, and with the other hive mates through her. I absolutely adored this approach to a group dynamic, and even after finishing the first book, I feel like I haven’t nailed down all the minute details. The relationships in this book are complex and ever changing. I’m not sure if I have a favorite character among them yet, but the shifting points of view have given me a lot to think about. Each character has a different reason for being in the hive, but motivations are adapting. While loyalty is solid on one page, the next I can feel the doubt. I think a major betrayal is just around the corner…
Trust is definitely one of the big issues in this book. There simply isn’t enough of it to go around! I always love a book where the characters aren’t black or white. Most of this story is told in shades of grey, and I was drawn into the shadows to see how deep they go. There were some seriously brilliant moments, but there were also moments where I was jolted from the story because something wasn’t smooth enough. The pace certainly isn’t breakneck fast, but there is plenty of personality for the story to be largely character driven. Having finished the first book, I’m left with loads of questions, and a healthy dose of speculation. Book 2, Hive & Heist, is calling to me… can’t wait to dig in!
A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
What a fascinating story! Coming from someone who has spent twenty years reading sci-fi novels, it should really mean something when I say that it was a unique twist on a classic story. The story is pretty standard space travel, but the very nature of the societal roles takes the story to a whole new level.
The whole story pivots around Rhiannon. She is the group’s queen, although she isn’t exactly your standard monarch. She’s more like the queen of a bee hive, and the other members of her hive have a unique connection with her, and with the other hive mates through her. I absolutely adored this approach to a group dynamic, and even after finishing the first book, I feel like I haven’t nailed down all the minute details. The relationships in this book are complex and ever changing. I’m not sure if I have a favorite character among them yet, but the shifting points of view have given me a lot to think about. Each character has a different reason for being in the hive, but motivations are adapting. While loyalty is solid on one page, the next I can feel the doubt. I think a major betrayal is just around the corner…
Trust is definitely one of the big issues in this book. There simply isn’t enough of it to go around! I always love a book where the characters aren’t black or white. Most of this story is told in shades of grey, and I was drawn into the shadows to see how deep they go. There were some seriously brilliant moments, but there were also moments where I was jolted from the story because something wasn’t smooth enough. The pace certainly isn’t breakneck fast, but there is plenty of personality for the story to be largely character driven. Having finished the first book, I’m left with loads of questions, and a healthy dose of speculation. Book 2, Hive & Heist, is calling to me… can’t wait to dig in!
A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
July 16, 2014
This series must be read in order. This edition contains the first book and a bonus short story.
Queen&Commander-
Rhiannon longs to be Commander but must fool the test all 16 year olds must take to assign them to their rightful place in this rigid society. She knows she can be a good Queen she just has to make the test ignore her natural Perceiver inclinations. after all being able to almost see the future has to make for a good Hive Queen right?
The world is pervasive and immersive. This book is almost completely SciFi which I find very refreshing. The only paranormal twist at all is that all members of the Hive are quite literally linked by their pledge to their Queen and will eventually go quite insane without her addictive and calming presence. Sort of like a beehive the Queen gives all the workers purpose and they cannot survive without her influence. Obviously this means Rhiannon was always meant to be a Queen or the bond would not exist. For all her studying all she did was keep the test from mislabeling her.
Mystery and adventure make the suspense worthwhile in this unique coming of age story... I would reccomend it to paranormal fans (the hive thing is unique and well thought out) and SciFi enthusiast everywhere! I can not wait to read the next book Hive & Heist (The Hive Queen Saga)!
Bonus Short Story- So Much To Offer-
This is a cute bonus story of how Alan decided to Devote to Rhiannon even though he felt she was not a true Queen. He tells of the other Queens who tried to win his Devotion and binds Gavin closer to him strengthening their Hive while their Queen lies ill. It's short and sweet and shows insights into the culture you wouldn't otherwise have. It's definitely a must read for fans of the series!
***This series is suitable for young adult through adult readers
Queen&Commander-
Rhiannon longs to be Commander but must fool the test all 16 year olds must take to assign them to their rightful place in this rigid society. She knows she can be a good Queen she just has to make the test ignore her natural Perceiver inclinations. after all being able to almost see the future has to make for a good Hive Queen right?
The world is pervasive and immersive. This book is almost completely SciFi which I find very refreshing. The only paranormal twist at all is that all members of the Hive are quite literally linked by their pledge to their Queen and will eventually go quite insane without her addictive and calming presence. Sort of like a beehive the Queen gives all the workers purpose and they cannot survive without her influence. Obviously this means Rhiannon was always meant to be a Queen or the bond would not exist. For all her studying all she did was keep the test from mislabeling her.
Mystery and adventure make the suspense worthwhile in this unique coming of age story... I would reccomend it to paranormal fans (the hive thing is unique and well thought out) and SciFi enthusiast everywhere! I can not wait to read the next book Hive & Heist (The Hive Queen Saga)!
Bonus Short Story- So Much To Offer-
This is a cute bonus story of how Alan decided to Devote to Rhiannon even though he felt she was not a true Queen. He tells of the other Queens who tried to win his Devotion and binds Gavin closer to him strengthening their Hive while their Queen lies ill. It's short and sweet and shows insights into the culture you wouldn't otherwise have. It's definitely a must read for fans of the series!
***This series is suitable for young adult through adult readers
May 28, 2013
Read full review at: ReadingToTheStarsAndBack
To be honest, I thought that Queen and Commander was extremely random and quirky. But it worked! This is a dystopian read that includes romance and space travel! Let’s get on with the review!
So, Rhiannon has just been tested and her results are Queen and Commander. [Kinda like in Divergent.] Queens are very precious. There are many queens at one point, not just one. Queens need a crew. They need support from people to build a Hive. This is where Rhiannon’s story starts. [It’s a little confusing so I’ll make it choppy and quick.]
She has a best friend called Gwyn. She is in love with his boy called Victor. Victor has been tested and he is a Devoted. A Devoted means he has to choose a queen and Devote to her. He protects her in battle, even breeds with her. (I think? That’s the impression I got, even though it never really went into detail.)
But obviously, that’s the problem because Victor doesn’t want to devote to a Queen when he has a girlfriend. So Rhiannon cares for her best friend and doesn’t want her to betray her, so she goes along with Victor’s plan to run away in a space – ship and create their own Hive along with some more people who make up the crew.
Plus, it’s Welsh space, which was an added twist. I haven’t read that many books that contain Welsh Space, (errr…none.) so that was original.
To be honest, I thought that Queen and Commander was extremely random and quirky. But it worked! This is a dystopian read that includes romance and space travel! Let’s get on with the review!
So, Rhiannon has just been tested and her results are Queen and Commander. [Kinda like in Divergent.] Queens are very precious. There are many queens at one point, not just one. Queens need a crew. They need support from people to build a Hive. This is where Rhiannon’s story starts. [It’s a little confusing so I’ll make it choppy and quick.]
She has a best friend called Gwyn. She is in love with his boy called Victor. Victor has been tested and he is a Devoted. A Devoted means he has to choose a queen and Devote to her. He protects her in battle, even breeds with her. (I think? That’s the impression I got, even though it never really went into detail.)
But obviously, that’s the problem because Victor doesn’t want to devote to a Queen when he has a girlfriend. So Rhiannon cares for her best friend and doesn’t want her to betray her, so she goes along with Victor’s plan to run away in a space – ship and create their own Hive along with some more people who make up the crew.
Plus, it’s Welsh space, which was an added twist. I haven’t read that many books that contain Welsh Space, (errr…none.) so that was original.
June 18, 2014
This was good but strange. There's no real background given about why this society has "queens" or what is really going on. All the plot line gives you is that everyone in the plot is a little desperate, all for their own reasons.
In a way I understand the character's choices but at the same time I just don't get any of them. Rhiannon half the time is inside her own head. She wants so badly to be a good queen that she doesn't even speak up or give her crew members a direction. I was really saddened by this. Her lack of authority and the fact that she has to read up on how to be a queen for dummies, is silly. Stop reading, start doing! But technically she wasn't built for this duty. She fooled the tests and because of that she puts herself into some serious situations. But now she has this duty to make sure she and her hive are safe.... ARGH! I just ... Half the book I wanted to scream at her.
Then you have the others. Come on guys... They are all very young, talked Rhiannon into being a Commander and now they are curious WHY she doesn't know how to command! SIGH! And then Rhiannon sort of peer pressures the other two guys into coming along as well. What goes around comes around!
So, I enjoyed the characters but I think the plot is nearly unbelievable. But I'm sticking with it and reading book two and to be honest, I am curious about what is going to happen to them. The story is easy to read even though the characters are flipping nuts. I'm involved now even if I am kicking and screaming the entire way!
3.5/5
In a way I understand the character's choices but at the same time I just don't get any of them. Rhiannon half the time is inside her own head. She wants so badly to be a good queen that she doesn't even speak up or give her crew members a direction. I was really saddened by this. Her lack of authority and the fact that she has to read up on how to be a queen for dummies, is silly. Stop reading, start doing! But technically she wasn't built for this duty. She fooled the tests and because of that she puts herself into some serious situations. But now she has this duty to make sure she and her hive are safe.... ARGH! I just ... Half the book I wanted to scream at her.
Then you have the others. Come on guys... They are all very young, talked Rhiannon into being a Commander and now they are curious WHY she doesn't know how to command! SIGH! And then Rhiannon sort of peer pressures the other two guys into coming along as well. What goes around comes around!
So, I enjoyed the characters but I think the plot is nearly unbelievable. But I'm sticking with it and reading book two and to be honest, I am curious about what is going to happen to them. The story is easy to read even though the characters are flipping nuts. I'm involved now even if I am kicking and screaming the entire way!
3.5/5
February 7, 2017
I got this book because I had a chance to interview the author on my podcast. Unfortunately, I put it off for a long time because I had so many non-fiction books in my queue. Well, I still have non-fiction books in my queue but I read this and I'm glad I did.
This book imagines a future where it has been found that the way of the bee is what works best for space travel. There are Queens and devoted who serve with them on their ships. This book isn't really about the sci-fi though. It's about this Queen, her hive and the beginning of their adventure. Relationships make a hive and we find out how some started, how some evolve and how some are a bit delusional. After we get a clear view of our hero crew we begin to see the bigger picture of the saga. By the end of this you'll want to read the next so that you can see what happens as they explore the intrigue that is happening in their universe.
This book imagines a future where it has been found that the way of the bee is what works best for space travel. There are Queens and devoted who serve with them on their ships. This book isn't really about the sci-fi though. It's about this Queen, her hive and the beginning of their adventure. Relationships make a hive and we find out how some started, how some evolve and how some are a bit delusional. After we get a clear view of our hero crew we begin to see the bigger picture of the saga. By the end of this you'll want to read the next so that you can see what happens as they explore the intrigue that is happening in their universe.
July 30, 2014
I really like the premise of this book. This book is full of an interesting cast of characters. There are a lot of main characters but they are different enough and distinct enough that they have their own voices.
The hive idea was a little hard to follow. It is confusing to me that everyone wants them to be in love with the Queen but not have a relationship with her. There were a lot of questions about how their world works. But I acknowledge that this is a series and as the story unfolds more details will emerge.
The action of the story was believable. They have a rogue hive and need to keep the details of the hive a secret. The person they are escorting stumbles on their secret and they are forced to do what he blackmails them into in order to not be reported. The side stories of the book are what produce more questions than answers.
The relationship between Gwyn/Lois and Victor holds the hive back and I will be surprised if they last. The characters are flawed and prone to rash decisions which is expected of teenagers. This book fits the teen genre well and I can't wait to see the characters grow and mature and learn to support and connect as a group.
I am definitely interested in finding out the answers to all of the questions and learning more about this world.
The hive idea was a little hard to follow. It is confusing to me that everyone wants them to be in love with the Queen but not have a relationship with her. There were a lot of questions about how their world works. But I acknowledge that this is a series and as the story unfolds more details will emerge.
The action of the story was believable. They have a rogue hive and need to keep the details of the hive a secret. The person they are escorting stumbles on their secret and they are forced to do what he blackmails them into in order to not be reported. The side stories of the book are what produce more questions than answers.
The relationship between Gwyn/Lois and Victor holds the hive back and I will be surprised if they last. The characters are flawed and prone to rash decisions which is expected of teenagers. This book fits the teen genre well and I can't wait to see the characters grow and mature and learn to support and connect as a group.
I am definitely interested in finding out the answers to all of the questions and learning more about this world.
July 29, 2014
Queen & Commander is book one in a new Science Fiction series and like many new series it requires a lot of world and character building.
Janine Southard did a good job of putting up the framework for the series but there is a lot left to do. For me this is like what you see when the outside walls of a building are in place. You understand the outside but have no idea about what fits in the interior.
The characters were trying to find their places in the group but still had not jelled into a whole. Rhiannon needed to be a strong central character but was still trying to learn her duties. There is a unique idea for how groups are formed and how they function. What I did not see was how this grouping came to be.
The world is made up of different groups but several are only names. That left more questions than answers. The plot puts the group in a really bad situation and they only get out by working together. The action just sets up the series. There are more questions than answers in Queen and Commander but everything is in order for future books.
I wanted more detail about the characters and the world so I do hope for more answers in future stories set in this universe.
Janine Southard did a good job of putting up the framework for the series but there is a lot left to do. For me this is like what you see when the outside walls of a building are in place. You understand the outside but have no idea about what fits in the interior.
The characters were trying to find their places in the group but still had not jelled into a whole. Rhiannon needed to be a strong central character but was still trying to learn her duties. There is a unique idea for how groups are formed and how they function. What I did not see was how this grouping came to be.
The world is made up of different groups but several are only names. That left more questions than answers. The plot puts the group in a really bad situation and they only get out by working together. The action just sets up the series. There are more questions than answers in Queen and Commander but everything is in order for future books.
I wanted more detail about the characters and the world so I do hope for more answers in future stories set in this universe.
November 30, 2021
This nearly got thrown out of my reading pile because it looked very YA, coming-of-age and teen angst. And it was, but it was done very well!
There is a story, and having thrown these people together and put them in a manky spaceship, but hey, it’s their manky spaceship, they get conned into something vaguely mysterious so that they have to find out what is going on.
The story is told from clearly defined multiple points of view, so that even though I was slightly put off by the adoring wimp that a Devoted has to be, when the story got into their heads, their POVs, they were really, really well written, with great backstory and sound personalities. Victor is the weakest link, but he comes through in the end…
Except it’s just the first part of a longer series. It’s like episode one. It definitely isn’t a complete story. So the downside is you finish a chapter and instead of what’s happening next, you get the credits. It’s not even really cliff-hanging. In fact, I know flash fiction with more satisfying endings.
Am I reading more of this series? If I was a gullible teen, I might. But I’m not. There are lots more fish in the sea.
There is a story, and having thrown these people together and put them in a manky spaceship, but hey, it’s their manky spaceship, they get conned into something vaguely mysterious so that they have to find out what is going on.
The story is told from clearly defined multiple points of view, so that even though I was slightly put off by the adoring wimp that a Devoted has to be, when the story got into their heads, their POVs, they were really, really well written, with great backstory and sound personalities. Victor is the weakest link, but he comes through in the end…
Except it’s just the first part of a longer series. It’s like episode one. It definitely isn’t a complete story. So the downside is you finish a chapter and instead of what’s happening next, you get the credits. It’s not even really cliff-hanging. In fact, I know flash fiction with more satisfying endings.
Am I reading more of this series? If I was a gullible teen, I might. But I’m not. There are lots more fish in the sea.
March 17, 2013
The characters in this book put me in mind of young Miles Vorkosigan with their "I have no idea what I'm doing, but I can't admit that, so I'll just make stuff up" attitudes, though with less of a penchant for blowing things up.
I rather like books which do POV changeoffs, and this book did it, and did it well. It made me feel like I had a deeper understanding of the crew and how they see each other. The changeoffs themselves occurred at chapter breaks, so they felt rather natural.
The "Hive" structure and society was definitely an interesting concept, and it was consistent and relevant throughout the story.
The whiny emo teen is a bit... well, whiny and emo; but it speaks well to the author that she can write a protaganist character that you want to not like amongst others that you want dearly to like.
The ending does feel like it comes on suddenly, because you're still in page-turner mode when it sneaks up on you. Rather than be disappointed in ending on suspense (aka To Be Continued...) I think I'm just ready to see book 2 come out so I can continue the adventure.
I rather like books which do POV changeoffs, and this book did it, and did it well. It made me feel like I had a deeper understanding of the crew and how they see each other. The changeoffs themselves occurred at chapter breaks, so they felt rather natural.
The "Hive" structure and society was definitely an interesting concept, and it was consistent and relevant throughout the story.
The whiny emo teen is a bit... well, whiny and emo; but it speaks well to the author that she can write a protaganist character that you want to not like amongst others that you want dearly to like.
The ending does feel like it comes on suddenly, because you're still in page-turner mode when it sneaks up on you. Rather than be disappointed in ending on suspense (aka To Be Continued...) I think I'm just ready to see book 2 come out so I can continue the adventure.
August 24, 2014
*I received this book as an e-arc from NetGalley.com in exchange for a honest review.*
I really enjoyed the first book in what should turn out to be a fun young adult sci-fi series. While I can't comment on the Welsh culture aspect of the book specifically, I did enjoy reading about a matriarchal society. It is a different was of looking at things that was at times odd to comprehend. However, that is why I think books with different cultures and societies are so important. They offer a way to see a society different from our own from a sympathetic perspective.
As far as story goes, the action in the book was slow at times. However, I'm excited to see where this series goes. I'm a little confused about specific aspects of the Hive like whether or not a Devotion as meta-physical consequences. It was hinted that a Queen "felt" her hive at one point, but I would like to see further exploration into what that means. I'm confident that will happen in further books.
Overall, Queen and Commander was a good, fast, sci-fi read.
I really enjoyed the first book in what should turn out to be a fun young adult sci-fi series. While I can't comment on the Welsh culture aspect of the book specifically, I did enjoy reading about a matriarchal society. It is a different was of looking at things that was at times odd to comprehend. However, that is why I think books with different cultures and societies are so important. They offer a way to see a society different from our own from a sympathetic perspective.
As far as story goes, the action in the book was slow at times. However, I'm excited to see where this series goes. I'm a little confused about specific aspects of the Hive like whether or not a Devotion as meta-physical consequences. It was hinted that a Queen "felt" her hive at one point, but I would like to see further exploration into what that means. I'm confident that will happen in further books.
Overall, Queen and Commander was a good, fast, sci-fi read.
April 29, 2013
Después de leerme el libro:
Realmente me agradó la protagonista, su actitud, y que era decidida. Creo que el primer capítulo comenzó un poco flojo, pero el resto realmente mejoró muchísismo.
Lo único es que siento que el final fue un poco apresurado y simplemente te deja con ganas de más, muchísimo más!
Sin duda, leeré la continuación de este libro :D
------------------------------
Antes de leerme el libro:
Aún no he comenzado a leer el libro, pero me llama muchísimo la atención la portada, y la sinopsis, es como medio rara, pero aún así, me atrapó. Tenía tiempo queriendo leer cosas de extraterrestres, así que estoy con la saga Lux y con este :D
Realmente deseo que tenga un toque de acción, que sea tenga un buen humor, y que el siguiente de la saga se publique pronto hahahahah porque si este me deja con muchas preguntas estaré casi que mordiéndome las uñas por mucho tiempo (y esa idea no me gusta).
Realmente me agradó la protagonista, su actitud, y que era decidida. Creo que el primer capítulo comenzó un poco flojo, pero el resto realmente mejoró muchísismo.
Lo único es que siento que el final fue un poco apresurado y simplemente te deja con ganas de más, muchísimo más!
Sin duda, leeré la continuación de este libro :D
------------------------------
Antes de leerme el libro:
Aún no he comenzado a leer el libro, pero me llama muchísimo la atención la portada, y la sinopsis, es como medio rara, pero aún así, me atrapó. Tenía tiempo queriendo leer cosas de extraterrestres, así que estoy con la saga Lux y con este :D
Realmente deseo que tenga un toque de acción, que sea tenga un buen humor, y que el siguiente de la saga se publique pronto hahahahah porque si este me deja con muchas preguntas estaré casi que mordiéndome las uñas por mucho tiempo (y esa idea no me gusta).
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