Summer Queen

Fairy Queens #3

by Amber Argyle

To rise from the ashes, first she must burn.

Nelay was nine years old when she bargained with the fae to save her father's life. That bargain left her without her family and cursed. Now seventeen and a powerful acolyte, Nelay wants nothing more than to become high priestess in the Temple of Fire.

Until the fae Winter Queen, bent on vengeance, invades with her army and traps Nelay's family behind enemy lines. Determined to save them, Nelay finds an unlikely and annoying ally in a smuggler with a penchant for legends. The fact that he's handsome doesn't hurt.

But as her enemy pommels her kingdom into submission, Nelay realizes a bigger power is at play than that wielded by mere mortals. Perhaps the only way to defeat the fae is to embrace the curse they gave her. There's just the little problem of losing her soul in the process.

Only Nelay can stand between the cinders of her once-great nation and the vengeance of the Winter Queen.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Fae, Fiction, Fairies, Paranormal Romance

416 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2015

About the author

Amber Argyle is the bestselling fantasy & romance author of the Forbidden Forest, Fairy Queens, Witch Song, & Wild Heart Ranch Romance series. Her award-winning books have been translated into several languages and praised by such authors as NYT bestsellers David Farland and Jennifer A. Nielsen.

Amber grew up on a cattle ranch and spent her formative years in the rodeo circuit and on the basketball court. She graduated cum laude from Utah State University. She’s delightfully sarcastic, loves all things outdoors, and believes spiders should be relegated to horror novels where they belong.

She has completed three series and is working on a fourth.

To receive her starter library of four free books, simply tell her where to send it: http://amberargyle.com/freebooks/

Reviews

[Kirsty (Amethyst Bookwyrm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Amber Argyle for giving me this book to review.

Nelay never wanted to be queen, she wanted to become the most powerful priestess in Idara, but with an army sweeping towards her family she is willing to risk everything and to manipulate the king to get aid. She sets off on a journey across Idara with a band of tribesmen smugglers, led by the charming Rycus, in the hopes of getting to her parents on time. However, there are bigger powers at play and a deal made years ago will change Nelay’s fate forever. With a war waged between mortals, fairies and goddesses, will Nelay be able to stop Idara being turn to ash.

Summer Queen is the brilliant sequel to Winter Queen as there was action, adventure, romance and magic. There was never a dull moment in the book and I did not want to put it down, but I also never got overwhelmed with too much info either. While you don’t need to read Winter Queen to enjoy this book, I would recommend it as it is adds to the story, I would also recommend reading the prequel short story to this Of Fire and Ash as it gives a good insight into Nelay and her past.

I really loved Nelay’s character as she was brave, determined and willing do anything for those she cares about, even if they don’t deserve it. I also liked that she was intelligent and was never timid, while her character grew in this book she always knew she was capable. I also really liked Rycus as he was protective and balanced Nelay really well, plus I do have a soft spot for storytellers. Another character I liked was Nelay’s best friend Jezzel but I did wish she was in this book more than she was.

This is an amazing book and I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the Fairy Queens series, Daughter of Winter. I would recommend Summer Queen to fans of the First Book Winter Queen and the Fairy Queens series, plus Ambers other books, to all fans of YA fantasy novels.

This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm

[Amber Argyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not prejudice at all. Really. *shifty eyes*

[Darkphoenix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Amber Argyle for the advanced reading copy.

Summer Queen is the second book in the Fairy Queens series by Amber Argyle. I am a huge fan of Argyle and she never disappoints and Summer Queen was no exception. I loved Winter Queen so I had high hopes for this book.

It took me some time to really get immersed into the narrative for once and I found it especially difficult in the beginning. But as with the rest of her books, I soon found myself getting completely caught up in the events and the numerous characters. Summer Queen is set against the Clans’ invasion of Idara. At its centre is Nelay, an acolyte in the temple of the Goddess of Fire, she is powerful and ambitious. The High Priestess plans for her to wed King Zatal, but Nelay does not share her excitement over this union. She escapes with the help of her friend, Jezzel and together with a few tribesmen, sets out to ensure her family's safety. While traveling together, she begins to fall for their leader Rycus and the feeling is mutual. When they finally reach her home she is too late. While still at her home, she finds that the Clan forces have come further into Idara than she previously thought. She gets captured by some of the Clan soldiers but manages to escape them. Forced to make her way back to the Idaran city of Dalarta, she finds herself back in the clutches of the king. Not only that, she soon finds herself defending her city and her people against the Clans’ onslaught.

Summer Queen is a very well paced novel, it never drags but takes the time to establish all the key players. While most of the action is concentrated in the third half, there is plenty of action interspersed with character development and growth. The writing, as always, was completely immersive and engaging. Normally, I am a very quick reader but this was one of the rare instances where I could pace myself and savour this book. The stakes were certainly very high with the fate of the whole of Idara hanging in the balance.

In the Winter Queen, we were introduced to the Clans and for the most part, they were portrayed in the positive light. They were a decent people, not cruel and certainly used to a very hard life. In addition to their harsh living conditions, they also had to contend with the threat of Raiders looting and pillaging. In Summer Queen, we are given the Raiders i.e. the Idarans’ perspective and this time they are on the defensive with defeat looking like a very real possibility. There are instances of brutality on the Clans’ hands; killing unarmed people, children to name a few. They claimed that they were seeking vengeance for what the Raiders had done to them but in doing so, they had become what they hated without even realising it. They were so blinded by hate that they never stopped to question what they were doing. True, that the Idarans had conquered a lot of lands and imposed their own beliefs on them and hadn’t treated them well but the way things were going, one side was no different than the other.

Summer Queen was rich in characters as well, both in quantity and quality. Another thing that I really like about Argyle’s characters is just how realistic they are. Also, she doesn’t write characters that are outright evil or good (of course there are the odd exceptions.) This makes for complicated and compelling characters. A prime example of this is King Zatal. He could easily have been portrayed as a tyrant and perhaps he was, but there was more to him that just that. The readers along with Nelay come to respect him because he is brave, cares for his people and willing to sacrifice himself to save them.

Nelay was the protagonist and she was an excellent character. I loved her spirit and grit. I loved how capable she was and that she didn’t need men to protect her. Sure she got injured a number of times, but that didn’t diminish the fire inside her (no pun intended) Her entire life turned upside down in the space of a few days and instead of falling apart, she blossomed. She went from being an acolyte to becoming the Queen and responsible for the safety of her people and her kingdom. She was a natural leader and a brilliant tactician. When Clans had marched nearly to the palace gates, even then she tried to think of ways to outfox them and she very nearly did. As the Summer Queen, she was majestic and terrifying all at once. what was also notable was that she was ambitious. So often, when we come across ambitious female characters, they are portrayed in poor light or the author is constantly making excuses on their behalf, there was none of that. Her ambition was a strength and Nelay never apologised for it.

Side note: I actually liked Leto. She was kind and helped Ilyenna when she didn’t need to. She could have easily let her die but she didn’t. She also helped her stay with Rone. I was sad to see her go.

I loved Ilyenna and I was looking forward to seeing her in Summer Queen, I just never expected that she would almost be an antagonist. There are so many similarities between her and Nelay; they’ve both suffered losses and were willing to do anything to save their loved ones. For now they are mortal enemies and their war will rage for some time, but I am hoping that they can in time, see beyond their hatred for each other.

I love the love interests that Argyle writes. Yes, they are strong men and protective but they also recognise that the object of their affection is capable in her own right. Rycus was the smuggler Nelay hired to escape her marriage to the king. Their relationship was initially a little rocky but Rycus finally managed to wriggle under her skin. He was funny, charming and clever. He was loyal to his people and once he committed to Nelay, he didn’t hold back. He was a steady presence and I really liked him.

There is a love story in Summer Queen, after all, it is the Queen’s consort who helps her retain her humanity and compassion. But I love how subtle their love story was, it was present and very beautiful and sweet but it was also unobtrusive. It was an important part of the narrative but it never hindered the broader narrative.

Then there was Jezzel and she was just awesome. Nelay was very fortunate to have her as her friend. She was a staunch ally but also wasn’t afraid to tell Nelay what she needed to hear. She was strong and capable in her own right. She was also protective of Nelay and one of the few people who cared for her without any agenda whatsoever. She was also really funny. I loved her.

Then there were a number of secondary characters like Maran, Delir, Scand, Chinab, Bahar and Harrow, who though not very important, were memorable nonetheless. We saw Nelay’s brother, Panar again and he as insufferable as always. Seriously, he was more dislikeable than most of the antagonists. Then there was High Priestess Suka, and I found her fate very satisfying, she got what she deserved.

And how can I possibly forget the fairies? Was it just me or were the Summer fairies not very nice? They seemed manipulative and a touch cruel. With the likes of Siseth, I wasn’t surprised at Nelay’s unwillingness to be a part of their plan. But once again, there were many different kinds of fairies, each with their own distinct personalities.

Summer Queen was an exciting and riveting instalment to the Fairy Queens series. With its rich narrative and complex characters, it was thoroughly entertaining and I loved it every minute of it. I can’t wait to read more about Ilyenna and Nelay’s journey.


Update:
Love the cover but I need the release date asap!!!!! I'm hoping that it'll be early next year....

2014!!!! Seriously!!???

[Sheila G · Rating 4 out of 5]

"They say there are two kinds of people--those who build and those who break. But I have learned that sometimes we must break before we can build."

This book is written more in the style of an epic fantasy. It shows the fight between the forces and realms of Summer and Winter. Basically, the fighting gets real! The world building is strong. However, I think the overall culture lacked in comparison to Winter Queen.

Following the story of Nelay, a priestess of the Goddess of Fire, is chosen to become queen of the realm. Instead, she escapes to find her family, whom she hasn't seen in years. She is kick-butt, and doesn't let anything get in her way of finding them. After her objectives change, we see the once hard exterior soften, and Nelay's character takes on more responsibility as she comes across situations challenging her to do so.

Comparing the characters of Nelay and Ileyana, I'm a bigger fan of Ileyana. I believe Nelay didn't have as much depth (even if THAT COVER makes up any lack in character,) as Ileyana. Ilyeana is the epitome of heroine, and understands sacrifice than most--even if Nelay comes around near the end.

However, just when we thought the war was dwindling to a close...we find out that it's only the beginning.

Rating of 3.5 stars.

The only thing both nations could agree on was that the war had just begun. And the price for winning would be too steep.

This review can also be viewed at my blog: She's Going Book Crazy

[Frida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book so much but the ending kind of killed me. I need the next book, like right now.

Review

Earlier this year I read and adored Of Fire and Ash, the prequel novella to Summer Queen. The main character Nelay quickly made her way to the top of my list of favorite characters and I was dying to read more about her. When I got my hands on Summer Queen, I was both utterly excited and a bit scared. What if I didn’t love it as much as its prequel? What if my expectations would ruin it? Luckily that did not happen. I loved Summer Queen from page one and it exceeded my expectations by far. I could not have asked for more.

After reading Summer Queen, Nelay rose even higher on my list of favorite characters. I think she’s an amazing heroine and I love her to pieces. She’s strong and brave and kind and stubborn. She’s intelligent and independent and sassy and just awesome in every kind of way. I love that she knows that she’s awesome and that she doesn’t try to diminish her awesomeness or let other people run her down. She drives the story forward and even though there are forces trying to push her in this and that direction, she always finds a way to turn everything into going in the direction she wants. She’s not a player in someone’s game, she’s the game leader of her own life. It’s her choices, her moves and I simply love that. It’s so refreshing!

Nelay is not the only character I came to love. This book is full of lovable characters. The sassy and witty best friend Jezzel, the smuggler Rycus and his gang of tribesmen and the brave little girl Kalla, just to name a few. Argyle really shows that she can create interesting and three-dimensional characters. Not only lovable ones, but awful and evil ones as well. There’s a wide variety of characters, and every single one of them have depth and a story of their own to tell and I really like that. I also like that no one is simply good or evil – the characters are layered and flawed and I think it’s quite clear everyone has both light and dark inside them, as most of us do.

The story is action-packed from the first page to the very last. It’s quite a long book, but it never feels long, because you fly through the pages, dying to know what’s going to happen next. A true page-turner! I really like the depth of the story and how there are a lot of “smaller” storylines within the main one. There is so much going on, and when you finish you truly feel like you’ve been part of a great journey. You haven’t been an idle bystander, you’ve been in the midst of the fire, fighting side by side with Nelay. Not all stories have the power to make you part of the story in that way, but this one does, and in my opinion it can’t get better than that. If a book have that power, it will be loved and it will stay with you forever.

Summer Queen is not only entertaining and thrilling, it’s also an emotional roller coaster. Halfway through the book I wasn’t sure I’d be able to continue due to all the feels. It was too much for my heart too handle. In a good way (if that even makes sense) because I love when a book give you all the feels. There is a lot of happiness and love and friendship, but also a lot of heart wrenching pain and death and darkness. As I said, an emotional roller coaster. In the best of ways.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, thrilling and entertaining fantasy, that will have you both cry your eyes out and feel all warm and fuzzy inside, Summer Queen is the book to read. If you also like your books to contain a strong heroine, just the right amount of swoon-worthy romance and a lot of action, I don’t know what you’re waiting for - go pick it up! I love it so, so much and can’t recommend it enough.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than Winter Queen, though I'm left confused on who is actually good and bad

I think I enjoyed Nelay's story in Summer Queen much more than Ilyenna's story in Winter Queen. Ilyenna was a Clanswoman princess (kind of) who was basically serving a war debt to another Clan. She was mistreated and psychologically and emotionally abused by her captor and barely experienced her life before she was taken by the fairies as the new Winter Queen. Honestly, it was a relief when she became the Winter Queen and was finally free and in control again. It was a weird ending, but I was happy that she escaped all that and was still able to keep most of her humanity and have a family.

In contrast, Nelay is a privileged Idaran priestess who worships the Fire Goddess (or Summer Queen), and is a skilled warrior and strategist. She grew up in a poor family in the desert (see Of Fire and Ash novella) before being brought to live and train in the city to become a fire priestess because she had the Sight, or the ability to see fairies. She is forced to marry the King, but first sneaks into the desert with a guide from the Tribesman of the desert to find her family that she hasn't seen since she was taken as a child. The Clansmen and other conquered peoples are attacking Idara and moving faster than would seem possible, and she has to rescue her family before they make it to the capital city. In comparison to Ilyenna's story, Nelay experiences more of life, though she's running and fighting for most of this story. She is pretty well respected because of her rank and her skills. In the end, it was still almost as disappointing for me because of all the death and destruction that they can't come back from, and because Nelay becomes the Summer Queen and an enemy to Ilyenna, the Winter Queen.

It was hard for me to hate Ilyenna and see her as the enemy in Summer Queen, since she was the protagonist of the last book, who was a Clanswoman from the mountains and hated the Raiders, or Idarans. It was also a little weird to switch viewpoints in the next book to an Idaran from the desert who hates Clansmen. I guess it helped that we don't actually see Ilyenna as the real enemy until the battle at the very end, after an entire book of Nelay's experiences and growing attached to her people and seeing that they weren't just the vicious Raiders that the Clansmen believed them to be. In Summer Queen, Clansmen are the enemy and the heartless monsters who attack and destroy and take slaves to repay for all the crimes to their people. But by the end of this book, I'm honestly a bit conflicted as to who is the enemy, who is in the wrong, when everyone kind of acts like the bad guys, but also both sides have been wronged.

It's also hard to know how I feel about Leto, the former Summer Queen, and Ilyenna's friendship, their plotting against Idara, and Nelay becoming the new Summer Queen. I can tell the war between Summer and Winter is just beginning and there is more to come and will hopefully be explained, but right now it's so hard to understand why they're fighting at all! At the end of Winter Queen, Ilyenna and Leto were friends, or at least agreed to work together to change the seasons and keep the Balance without being enemies and trying to destroy each other. Now in Summer Queen, 20 years later, Leto and Ilyenna are destroying the Balance by seeking vengeance against the Idarans who wronged their people when they were still mortals? I know they were able to retain some humanity because of the strength of their connection to loved ones, and I guess that helped them also retain memories and connection to their people and they feel the need to protect them. But what happened between Leto and Ilyenna in those 2 decades before this story that they decided to ignore the Balance and their responsibilities and allow Winter to overtake the desert and drive the Clansmen to defeat superior Idaran armies? It seemed a bit out of the blue and uncharacteristic of the Fairy Queens, after they were shown to be so in control and balanced with each other and understood their roles in the world. Just saying. I guess I don't like seeing protagonists from book one become antagonists of book 2 without much explanation. What sort of confusion am I in for in book 3 that will change everyone's roles again?

I do need to point out that this series needs to be thoroughly edited and reprinted. There are so many typos and errors in all the books and novellas up to this point. What is especially irritating is that the unique names and places of the authors own creation are misspelled and inconsistent! The misspelled names were a particular problem in Winter Queen. It's hard enough for the reader to keep track of all these invented names and places and secondary characters without misspelling throwing them off, making the reader wonder if you're talking about someone new or the name is just spelled wrong! Seriously need to spend more time editing before publishing, the typos are getting on my nerves!

Also, this book felt REALLY long, not because of dull moments or poor story development. It seemed like they were finally caught by the King's men who they were running from while searching for Nelay's family, and that soon it would start wrapping up and leading to the end. But that wasn't even the beginning of the final climax! So much more happens after Nelay is brought back to the capital, several battles, plot twists, and exchanges, all finally leading up to what we knew was coming from the beginning due to the book title, when Nelay is claimed by the fairies and becomes the new Summer Queen. I was astonished at how much still happened when I thought the book was almost over, and was pleasantly surprised that the story wasn't over quite yet! Just thought it was interesting.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, let me comment about the cover. While I LOVE the cover, I wished Nelay would have been darker skinned as she is in the book. Otherwise I think the cover is stunning.

This is Nelay's story. Her country is besieged with the Winter Queen's territorial inhabitants. They are punishing the Summer Queen's populace with the idea for reparations to the atrocities a king, who is no longer in power. Of course this leads to hypocrisy and they are becoming the thing they hate. While all this strife is going on we find ourselves on a journey with Nelay, the girl we met in the novella, Fire and Ash. She is on a journey to find out what happened to her parents and hopefully rescue them. While on this journey she finds out more about herself and where her strengths lie. She is drawn into political intrigue both in the human realm as well as the fae realm. What she choses not just decides her fate but the fate of all citizens under the Summer Queen's rule.

As much as I liked the first book, I have to say that I enjoyed this one more. While there were spots that were a bit slow, it does not stay that way. It actually felt that sometimes there was almost too much action. Mostly because it felt like she needed a break and would have collapsed more than she did while on the adventure. Of course the reason she could go on so much was covered and was fully explained in the book. I just felt so sorry for how much she had to go through. It isn't really a criticism, but more like an empathetic response. :)

I give this book 4 stars. It is a great addition to the series. I would also consider this one either older YA, or NA/Adult. There is a lot of death and it just "feels" like a older book. There is no cliffie, but an open story arc so you know more adventure is coming. I look forward to the next addition.First, let me comment about the cover. While I LOVE the cover, I wished Nelay would have been darker skinned as she is in the book. Otherwise I think the cover is stunning.

This is Nelay's story. Her country is besieged with the Winter Queen's territorial inhabitants. They are punishing the Summer Queen's populace with the idea for reparations to the atrocities a king, who is no longer in power. Of course this leads to hypocrisy and they are becoming the thing they hate. While all this strife is going on we find ourselves on a journey with Nelay, the girl we met in the novella, Fire and Ash. She is on a journey to find out what happened to her parents and hopefully rescue them. While on this journey she finds out more about herself and where her strengths lie. She is drawn into political intrigue both in the human realm as well as the fae realm. What she choses not just decides her fate but the fate of all citizens under the Summer Queen's rule.

As much as I liked the first book, I have to say that I enjoyed this one more. While there were spots that were a bit slow, it does not stay that way. It actually felt that sometimes there was almost too much action. Mostly because it felt like she needed a break and would have collapsed more than she did while on the adventure. Of course the reason she could go on so much was covered and was fully explained in the book. I just felt so sorry for how much she had to go through. It isn't really a criticism, but more like an empathetic response. :)

I give this book 4 stars. It is a great addition to the series. I would also consider this one either older YA, or NA/Adult. There is a lot of death and it just "feels" like a older book. There is no cliffie, but an open story arc so you know more adventure is coming. I look forward to the next addition.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having really enjoyed the first book in the Fairy Queens series, I was excited to get my hands on this next book! Argyle provided us with a prequel novella, Of Fire and Ash, so we were already introduced to the main character, Nelay and got a glimpse of her life as a child and how the fairies played a role in altering the course of her future forever. The book opens with Nelay living as a priestess in Thandjavar, having left her family behind in order to do so. She has been trained by the High Priestess herself and is considered a favorite. However, the land of Idara is being ravaged by war and Nelay is about to get sucked into the very midst of it. Desperate to find her family, she enlists the help of a smuggler named Rycus to help her flee her responsibilities as a priestess in order to ensure their safety.

What I loved most about this book was how Argyle weaved in so many plot points and tied them all together and really made them WORK. Fantasy can be a tricky genre and I felt she did a great job of making sure we understood all the layers and creating a fluid storyline and rich characters from start to finish. I have to admit there was one storyline that took me by surprise and left me feeling quite conflicted. We do get to see Ilyenna again, the Winter Queen from the first book, and it wasn't quite what I expected. And yet, I probably should have. I am really nervous as to how Argyle will continue this storyline in the upcoming novels. (In other words I really like both Nelay and Ilyenna!)

I really liked Nelay's character. She is so fierce and strong and I love her devotion to her friends and to her people. She will do what she must even at the sacrifice of her own happiness. Not to mention, you gotta love a heroine that can literally kick ass! She proved herself so many times over that she was a true warrior in every sense of the word. I also enjoyed the secondary characters too. Jez, her best friend and fellow priestess, was a great character who was fiercely loyal to Nelay. Maran is a woman Nelay helped along her journey and I ended up really liking her, despite some of the decisions she made. I can understand her plight though, and overall I am happy with the way things turned out for her. Rycus is probably my favorite and not that's not just because he was the love interest. He ended up being such a source of strength and comfort for Nelay. They balanced each other so well and I was absolutely giddy over the way things played out between them. I also love that even though this is considered YA, Argyle isn't afraid to take her characters into more mature territory in regards to their relationship.

I can't wait to read the next book in the series and I do hope we get to see Ilyenna and Rone again. I am interested in seeing the role the fairies will play as well as find out how things will continue for the realms of Winter and Summer. Either way I am anxious because I now have two sets of characters I love and I am worried of what will become of them in the future books!

*Received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.*

[Faye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the cover by the way.

I must admit I was kind of disappointed how the war continued between Ilyenna and Nelay. I have to reread Winter Queen. Anyway,in Winter Queen the clansmen were portrayed to be the better people but in Summer Queen they are no different from the Raiders who invaded them. One must pay a steep price for revenge. I was saddened by the deaths especially those who supported Nelay and Rycus. But it can't be helped.

I liked Nelay's character enough. She's witty, intelligent, and strong. Although I probably just don't like it when she makes hasty decisions. I felt for her when she saw what happened to her parents. Like her, I was angry at Panar. I knew he would do something foolish but I was glad he didn't make an appearance after that. I wished like Nelay he could have done more for their parents. I like Nelay's relationship with Rycus. Their relationship started slow and an almost kind of hate on Nelay's part. Rycus was tough on his own way at the same he is strong and his the perfect match for Nelay. I knew there was more to him than being a smuggler. I almost cried when I thought he wasn't going to make it. I loved all his cousins and I was saddened by those who died.

At the same time in Nelay's journey she was able to gain new friends and most important of all she experienced love. I freaking loved the part where she said yes, but I knew it was too good to be true when they finally got together. Anyway, moving on. In a roundabout way, Zatal for all his not so good decisions made the right one in the end for Nelay. I loved that part too. I won't spoil it too. At the same time, I felt bad for Zatal especially for his mistress and children. What I like about Nelay as well, was that she showed kindness too and in return she received kindness as well.

And then there's the previous Summer Queen. I liked Leto in Winter Queen especially how she helped Ilyenna. I was saddened by her death but at the same time it was understandable since like the summer fairies said, she upset the Balance.

Please make the Winter and Summer Queen be in peace. I disliked that they still have to fight and until one of them dies. I also wished that Ilyenna would open her eyes and realized the things she is doing is making the situation worst. Same for Nelay when/if she retaliates.

I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Deborah Andreasen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nelay was born a lowly sheepherder's daughter, but she was destined to be so much more. She climbs her way to High Priestess, but learns that her mother was right. When Fairies and Mortals mix, Mortals always lose. She refuses to bargain with the fairies again, for the price is always too high. But to refuse the fairies will cost even more. No matter what she chooses, she will lose. And she will be burned to ash.

I loved this second (sort of third) installment in the Fairy Queens series. I did read Of Fire and Ash, and I think it really helped to know the background between Nelay and the fairies. There was so much to this book, it's hard to include it all. The details were fantastic. I hate when books give so much detail that you end up skipping passages to get to dialogue. That never happened here. There were times when I could feel myself in the ovat or baking in the desert. Nelay is hard to like at times, which doesn't really bother me. Even though I didn't like her all the time, I certainly respected her and was still rooting for her.

I adored Rycus, even if I sometimes didn't understand why he was so loyal to Nelay. The secondary characters, Jezzel and Maran, added a beauty to the book that would have been totally lacking had they not been there. At one point, Maran sort of grounds the story when she hands a baby to Jezzel - a hardened warrior who was grieving - and tells her, "You need something to love."

There is so much death and killing in this book. Nothing terribly graphic, but just know there is a lot of death. And pain. There is no explicit sex, but there is one scene of intense kissing and such. There is a lot of strategy and war, which can sometimes be tricky to follow, but not too bad.

I loved this book, but I'd recommend it to more mature readers because of the things I mentioned above.

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read Summer Queen!

[Nat · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an intense read. Nelay is now one of my favorite protagonists. She is strong and knows herself. Every character felt like a real person even the worst of the lot. Harrow was such a unexpected but great character.He was constantly berated for his dad actions but still tried to be honorable and knew far more about the nature of the world than even Nelay did at the end in some respects. Meanwhile the clansmen of Ilyennas homeland have decided go on the offensive against their former conquerors that lead to them becoming just as bad but their excuse was liberation rather than spreading their civilizations greatness to other lesser land. Well Leto only appears once and that is for her to be killed and replaced by Nelay. Seriously she seemed so passive and such a pushover to Ilyenna that it was no wonder the summer fairies wanted her dead. Strange that that while Ilyennas a gets a kindly winter fairy confidante with Chriel Nelay gets the fairly nasty Siseth oh well the fairies are never supposed to be fully nice. By the end of the book it seemed maybe fairy queens shouldn't have their humanity back as it prevents them preforming their necessary function of keeping the world running.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy of Summer Queen by the author, in exchange for an honest review. I am a fan of books with a strong female lead character and this one does not disappoint. Nelay is on her way to becoming a powerful priestess, but she is instead given to the King as his Queen. Not satisfied with others affecting the course of her own life, Nelay embarks on a journey that takes her and her beloved Idara to the brink of destruction. The plot moved along swiftly and kept me interested from beginning to end. The author skillfully interjected a bit of romance into the book, in such a way that it did not detract from the central plot. I really liked the main characters, as they were all essential to making Nelay come to life as a protector and defender of Idara. I would like to thank the author, Amber Argyle, for the gift of this book and I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

[T.K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I liked her better as a little girl, the main character has grown into a formidable woman. She is impetuous, courageous, and unyielding. I really admired that the author didn't try to whitewash war; she displayed it in all its brutal hypocrisy, vengeance, and gore. And since we've already had the other side of the story from the earlier books in the series, it made me question my previous desire to annihilate the raiders. I wish the author would have left out the sexual content; it's still pretty PG-13, but the book would have been better without it.

[Selaya Morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride. Plots within plots, betrayals, insanity (always good for a twist!), new friendships and, of course, a brewing touch of real romance. The ending was a little predictable but I can live with that. Now all I have to do is try to figure out which title actually comes next since Goodreads doesn't seem to have the first iota of a clue. Going to keep plugging away though. Maybe a quick email to Amber Argyle might help with that?

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer Queen, book two in the Fairy Queens series, continues the story of Nelay, now one of the priestesses in Thandjavar and the charming smuggler, Rycus. When Nelay is told that she is to marry King Zatal, she flees with the help of her friend Jezzel, trying to get to her family. Along the way Rycus and Nelay eventually begin to fall in love when Nelay finds herself in a situation where she must pay the price of the fairies help, becoming the Summer Queen.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heroine was tricked into becoming a villain.

I feel sorry for Leto, and Nelay of this story for she was tricked into becoming a villain and I am not sure if these fairies deserve any queens for almost all of them are evil.

Good writing but not sure if I like the continued plot line.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just gets better and better. Amber Argyle is a brilliant writer. The story is filled with so much detail from Nelay's childhood, to her present self. From near starvation, to priestess. From poverty to war. Love? Betrayal! Can hardly wait for the next.

[Karen Bendzus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love nelay second story

I loved the continuation of nelays story. I hope nelay and Ileyna learn to get along. As i fell in love with Ileana in the first book. I hate that they are fighting

[Tas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I liked Nelay better than Illeyana and overall the plot and story telling has definitely improved from Book 1.

[Teresa Ericson- Mature · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short story and series!

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fantasy country trains girls as women soldiers (Priestesses). The country was huge and had control of all the land when the Northerners fought back. One woman tries to save her family by hiring a smuggler to help her. They fall in love but the country is falling into war and chaos. She must sacrifice everything to save her country. LOTS of violence, murders, kidnapping, war. No language, I don't remember if they spoke of sex. This is a good book for Hunger Games fans or Lord of the Rings.

[Carrie Slager · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Full disclosure: I received a free ebook in conjunction with the blog tour in exchange for an honest review.]

One of the things that drew me to Summer Queen in the beginning was the idea that this was finally some different fantasy. In the beginning of the blurb it sounded pretty typical but then things quickly got good so I decided to sign up for the tour. And in the end I’m glad I did because Summer Queen is anything but typical.

We start off meeting our main character Nelay preparing to seduce a king. Not because she’s particularly interested in him or seduction in general but because she wants to distract him while she makes her move to escape. The king, Zatal, is not marrying her because she’s sooo beautiful or the usual tropes but rather because the High Priestess of the fire goddess has told him he must marry an acolyte of the goddess in order to save his crumbling kingdom that used to be an enormous empire. Naturally, Nelay was chosen because she’s a high ranking priestess who is quickly looking like she’s going to challenge Suka, the old High Priestess for her job. But Nelay really doesn’t want anything to do with this man (who is in love with his thoroughly unsuitable mistress, not her); she wants to find her family. So she hires the smuggler Rycus and escapes.

Nelay is a very resourceful character. Not only is her butt-kicking awesome but in general Nelay is very analytical and thinks things through before doing them. She can sometimes be impulsive but at least she can also come up with plans while she’s doing the impulsive thing. It’s really nice to have a strategic thinker as a main character, despite her flaws like arrogance and the occasional bouts of selfishness. All of her more strong emotions are tempered quite nicely by Rycus, who is very easy going and thoroughly attractive. In the beginning Nelay and Rycus aren’t exactly buddy-buddy but through all of their adventures in the desert, in the various towns under enemy occupation and in the last standing city in the Idaran empire they start to realize that maybe they’d make more than just a good fighting team.

The plot of Summer Queen is actually quite fast for a high fantasy novel but Amber Argyle never sacrifices background information for plot. She maintains a nice steady pace with frequent bursts of pure action but at the same time readers get a pretty clear picture of the history of her fantasy world. And the history we learn through Nelay’s eyes isn’t necessarily the real history as we find out later when other characters come clean. Let’s just say that assuming things in Indara aren’t all that they appear to be. This rings especially true throughout the final battle as Nelay takes on more responsibility than she ever thought possible and learns that sometimes you have to sacrifice a little of yourself to save your people and even then it might not be enough.

Basically, if you’re looking for some well written and diverse fantasy, I’d recommend Summer Queen. It’s a great departure from a lot of typical fantasy tropes and Amber Argyle has clearly done her world-building. Technically speaking it’s not the first book in a series but apparently all of the books in this series can be read separately with complete understanding, just like I did. This is the first book of Argyle’s that I’ve read but it was so good I know it won’t be my last. Just go try it out!

I give this book 5/5 stars.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer Queen picks up two decades after the end of Winter Queen, and several years after Of Fire and Ash; centering around Nelay, a priestess of the Summer Goddess. I would say it is much better to read both Winter Queen and Of Fire and Ash before SQ, but it isn’t what I would call vital to your enjoyment and so it could serve as a standalone. However I feel that the pair of the novels (and novella) make for a wonderfully rich storytelling experience.

Nelay has grown quite a bit since the novella, she’s much more sure of herself and far more dangerous. This woman is a badass. She’s independent, smart, and capable of taking care of herself.Where as a lot of characters need development with their inner strength and facing danger, Nelay is the opposite. She slowly learns softness, what it means to love, and how to be truly selfless. However she stays strong minded, no matter what and for that I love and adore her in way I only reserve for my favorite strong female characters. She learns to love, but her heart doesn’t cloud her thinking…it doesn’t shut down those most vital of instincts that she’s honed over the years…if anything she becomes more deadly as she fights to keep what she deems hers. The whole host of characters alongside her is just as wonder and rich as she is, my favorites being Jezzel and Rycus. The banter that they share is just so perfect. I loved the juxtaposition of the two books in this series and what it offers in depth. In Winter Queen we learn about the clansmen, and they seemed like a pretty good people and the people to their south seemed harsh and unfeeling…but Summer Queen flips the tables and we learn that these characters are nearly the same. We see the differences in their ways of thing, their vibrantly and varied personalities, but at the core of it they are human and in that they share more than they know. But it’s not just on a grand scale we see this, we see this with characters in Nelay’s personal circle as well and I appreciated the complexity. And for those of you who have read Winter Queen, yes we do get to see Ilyenna again.

The actual story is beautiful. much like the cover. It’s a story of strength, and it shows that strength can be many things to the same person. The strength to defy rules, to love, to turn away, to help, to say goodbye, to say yes, to sacrifice willingly, to keep fighting in the face of death, etc. etc. However even with the story being so character focused we still get the beautiful world-building I’ve come to love and expect from Argyle. The desert seems so real I could feel the dry heat, I could easily see the abandoned mines and raided villages, and see the windstorms kick up the sand as they move across the land. Summer Queen has a lot of action as well, and towards the last 25% of the book the adrenaline barely takes a break. The life of those in the summer lands is one of harsh survival and strategic games, you fight against nature and you fight against others in order to make sure you maintain and keep your place.

In short, this book was beautiful and I finished it in one sitting. It’s a great series for those out there who enjoy fantasy but don’t feel up to a incredibly world building heavy book. It’s character driven and quickly paced, while still making time to paint a beautiful picture of the world around them. I can not wait for book three to come out!

[Danielle Withers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thinking back on the first book, Winter Queen, I think I like this one better. Maybe it was because there was more to the story (twists and turns); more action, which moved the book at a faster pace; or because there were other things and stories I could relate it to. For example, whenever Nelay talked about getting dressed and putting on her trousers, I thought of the Disney movie, Aladdin, specifically Princess Jasmine. It was because of how the trousers were described: "...the voluminous trousers, tight only around her waist and ankles, so they flared like bells." I kept picturing princess Jasmine's outfits from the movie.

As I kept picturing princess Jasmine's outfits, I envisioned Idara to be set somewhere like (again) where the movie Aladdin takes place--like Saudi Arabi, Sudan, Israel, or Egypt. This then made me think of when I read the first book, Winter Queen, and how I kept envisioning it taking place somewhere far north--like Finland, Iceland, Scotland--of the Nordic culture (like Norse mythology). I then thought of how this book kind of made me think of Egyptian culture (mythology). So is there going to be another one of her stories where I'll envision European countries--like Greece--and where it'll make me think of Greek culture (like mythology). Haha! Maybe I've been reading too many books or watching too many movies based on Norse, Egyptian, and Greek mythology, and seeing it in other settings.

Another thing I thought of while reading was the way that Rycus eventually won Nelay's heart. When Nelay looked back, trying to figure out when she'd become emotionally attached to Rycus, she realized it started with the stories he would tell while they were traveling through the desert. This made me think of the book One Thousand and One Nights and the mini TV series (Arabian Nights). Basically it's about a woman, named Shahrazad, who tells stories night after night (many times ending in cliffhangers) that leave the King in suspense when the morning comes, which prolongs her life for another day. In the mini series you see how the King (Sultan) falls in love with Shahrazad through her stories. So the fact that Nelay fell in love with Rycus through his stories made me smile because 1) I have always loved stories and 2) it made me think of the mini TV series that I throughly enjoy.

Okay, so as I was reading this book I couldn't help thinking, Amber has done a book on the Winter Queen, now the Summer Queen...is there going to be a Fall and Spring Queen somewhere down the road? I guess I'm curious if they're going to come in and pick sides or try to be the peace bringers for this war between Summer and Winter. Guess we'll see!

I would recommend this book to those who like fantasy, fairies, stories, and action. If I had to pick an age, I would recommend 16 and older. There's some sexual content (nothing graphic, but borders on risqué, I think) that I don't think is the best for younger readers.

[Ashley Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review and more can be found at The A P Book Club!

*I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

I absolutely loved Winter Queen when I first read it, and it's still one of my favorite fantasy books ever. Amber knows how to craft an incredible world with wonderful characters who continue to live on well past the ending of the books. So when I was given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Summer Queen, I immediately jumped on the chance! I couldn't wait to get back into this world and meet characters on the opposite side of the spectrum from those featured in Winter Queen. And I was not disappointed!

Nelay is not like any other priestess I've encountered in any of the books I've read. She's strong and independent and can hold her own in a fight, but she's also loving and willing to do anything to protect the people she cares about. She's also got a mischievous side to her, which I thought makes her hilarious. Nelay is also incredibly cunning, and she's always trying to figure out how to play things to her advantage. She's not afraid to back down from a fight she knows she cannot win, which I felt made her a dangerous enemy to have. I loved Illyenna in Winter Queen, but I honestly think that I love Nelay even more!

And then there's Rycus. Oh, Rycus. He's kind of off-putting at first, but then the more time we spend with him, the more I fell in love with him. He's absolutely fantastic for Nelay, and I think one of my favorite things in this book was watching their relationship develop. Except for those times when Amber does this thing where she gives me a mini heart attack and separates them and makes it seem like they're not meant to be together. I was so back and forth and I just could never figure out what surprises were in store!

Like all of Amber's other books, Summer Queen has gorgeous world-building. In Winter Queen, we learn about the lands of the Clansmen. In Summer Queen, the world is expanded and we learn more about the cities and the people who live in them, as well as the Tribesmen who live in the deserts. I can't wait to learn even more about this world and its people in the next book! The plot also moves along smoothly and quickly, and I never felt like anything was dragging along (even though this book is fairly long).

I would 100% recommend Summer Queen to anyone who has read Winter Queen, and the whole Fairy Queens series to fans of YA Fantasy. Especially if you enjoyed Rae Carson's Girl of Fire and Thorns series, and other books like it. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment (waiting is so hard!)! 5/5!!!

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is like the third time I have been asked to review a book and realized it was the second or third book in the series. Either I don't pay enough attention to the emails, or I am just blind. Either way, I don't know if I am missing anything from the first one or not, but never felt lost during the reading of this book. So if you have read the first one, yay for you...Now that I started with the second one I cannot go back words. It's a thing with me. I'm weird that way.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It has a lot of action and it was engaging. The world building was wonderful, I felt like there was just enough that I could "be" there in the book and not too much that it got wordy. That is important for me, because I don't like tons of description, sometimes it takes away from the story for me. This was just right.

Nelay was a great character. She was strong and passionate about her lands, and her people. She is a great leader. Nelay is being forced to marry the King, but is determined to see if her family is safe first. When meeting with the King to discuss their plans she asks only if she can return to her rooms to gather some stuff. While doing so she escapes the city with some rogues she has payed to help her get to her home, to see if her family is still alive. Rycus is the man in charge of getting her out of the city to find her family. Rycus, and Nelay do not get along at the beginning, but their friendships develops during their travels, and it's such a fun story to follow.

When they get to Nelay's home they find that her parents have been killed but no sign of her brother. Nelay is not satisfied with not finding him and convinces the group to split up and search the caves around the city to see if her brother is there among them.

When Nelay finds her brother the reunion is not the happy one she was looking for.

Rycus and Nelay form a bond that is unbreakable, but when Nelay is forced to marry the king things have to change between them. While the war is raging and the beloved king is taken down, Nelay is now in charge of finding a way to save her people.

When Nelay sees that her kingdom is burning to the ground, and they have lost many people she goes and does the only thing she thinks she can to save them all.

This story was action packed, and interesting. It was so much fun to see Nelay grow in this book. There are fairies, priestesses, and kings....oh my :). There is war, love, and determination. The ending made me go "WAIT" there has to be more...of course there is...hehe. I cannot wait to see where the third book goes.

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, man. Wowza. Okay. Where do I start and what do I say?

Summer Queen is the second book in this series. The first book in the series, Winter Queen (Fairy Queens Book 1) , will be on sale for .99 cents from April 10th-17th. Of Fire and Ash is the prequel to Summer Queen and gives an excellent background on Nelay. It really sets the stage for Summer Queen and helps you understand who Nelay is.

Summer Queen was intense. Like scary intense. At least for me it was. There was so much going on in this book. There were plots and sub-plots. It was full on, all the time. Several times I had to walk away from this book because the emotional intensity was too much. I just needed to breathe for a few minutes and let the anger go.

Nelay is strong and smart and determined. She knows what she wants and she has a plan. Unfortunately, other people try to force her into things she doesn't want but Nelay is so determined. She will accomplish what she has set out to do. No matter what.

Nelay is also angry a lot. She is a force to be reckoned with. She is fiercely loyal to her family, her people and close friends. Actually, Nelay is just fierce. I wouldn't want to go up against her! That is not to say that she doesn't have some softness in her, because she does. It just doesn't come out a lot because she cannot afford to be soft. To be soft would mean death in most instances.

This book is very violent. So much fighting, so much death. It was hard for me to read. That, combined with the intensity, is the reason I had to put it down and walk away several times. But this is a book about war and Nelay is in the middle of it, fighting for her life and her people. She never gives up. She never gives in.

I think the message I took away from this, in the end, was about love. Love is what keeps us anchored. It keeps our humanity. Love is worth fighting for.

Amber Argyle is such a gifted writer. She obviously knows how to draw the reader in and evoke real emotion. The scenes were vivid and real in my head. It takes talent to write like that.

Content: Violence (graphic, and lots of it), sexual innuendo and situations.

[Pili · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last year I read and loved Winter Queen so I was pretty excited to read Summer Queen and I'm very happy to report that it didn't disappoint!

Nelay is a girl from the desert that could see the fairies and because of a bargain she made is taken to the temple to be trained as a priestess. She becomes a powerful priestess, a strong woman and one that doesn't want to get her choices taken from her. I loved her determination, her strenght, her loyalty to her friends and her family and even with her flaws I simply adored her!

When you love the main character in a book, you are enthralled by the world building and fascinated by the plot, how it moves, and waves and makes small references to what happened in Winter Queen and expanding the world and making it even more complex and not easy to predict at all!

The world building was fantastic and the writing so vivid and visual! I kept feeling like I was in the desert, suffering the heat during the day, shivering in the night while watching the stars in the sky... Tasting the food, fighting the battled, plotting and planning. It weaved perfectly from the desert with its tribes and their culture, to the culture of the cities and their complacency, the court and its luxury and intrigues.

The secondary characters were very well fleshed out, even if some might have seemed two dimensional at first, we discover that there's much more to them than we thought, even if we continue to dislike them on occasion. There are allies, friends and enemies and some of them I instantly liked and others that were like a cactus, prickly outside but squishy inside! (Best metaphor ever!).

I loved this book from start to finish and it felt like it was over too soon! The pacing was fantastic and so many things kept happening and I just didn't want it to end! I cannot wait for the next book! Very well deserved 4.5 stars!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer Queen is the second full-length novel in Amber Argyle's Fairy Queens series. It takes place after Winter Queen and in a different part of the world, a part that seems to be based on Middle Eastern mythology. I am a huge fan of the author and this series, and this book, does not disappoint!

This book is focused on Nelay, an acolyte priestess in the temple of the Goddess of Fire. She has lived most of her life in the temple with her only goal to avoid ever being a wife and mother after seeing the pain her mother went through after loss after loss. She has trained as a priestess, a warrior, a tactician. She is smart and independent and yet still willing to risk it all to save a family that has essentially abandoned her.

There is so much more intrigue in this book than I had expected, with twists and turns. There are some battle scenes that are worth of a tactical military commander which I, as a former soldier, loved! While Nelay is the center of the story, there are a number of key players, all of whom are well-developed and who have their own stories. I loved that there were no clear lines between good and bad with the characters, each character, as in reality, having a bit of both as the situation requires.

The tie between the two novels in this series in not a direct one, which made it rather interesting. In Winter Queen, we meet the Clans and they were generally characterized in a postive light. In Summer Queen, the Clans are the enemy and portrayed in a much more savage light. It was interesting to see them in a totally different way and to have that new perspective.

My Recommendation: Such a great series, but Winter Queen should be read first!

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

After much thought and letting this book settle for a week I decided to give it 4 stars. When I first finished it I was a bit unhappy about some of the similarities from the first book even though I really enjoyed reading it and the story was certainly different. I love the way the author looks at the lives of the characters on the "other side" and how life for individual people is so specific to them even if they are considered to be the "bad guys" for someone else. This made me think about many wars that happen and how the majority of people are trying to live their best lives even though they might be living in a place where others would generalize them as "bad people" or "invaders" or "clans" or whatever it may be. I enjoyed the characters in this book and their interactions with one another. I could personally do with a bit less violence and/or detailed descriptions of it, but that is a personal preference. In the end, I would love to see how these people carry on and what happens next as there are still some unresolved questions at the end of this portion of the series.

I received a free Advanced Review Copy of this book for review.