Tiger Queen by Annie Sullivan

Mar 05, 2019 Umairah | Sereadipity rated it really liked it

Tiger Queen was a thrilling desert tale about a woman fighting to improve the lives of her people and prove her own worth. It was a clever retelling of the short story, 'The Lady, Or The Tiger?' and I really enjoyed it!

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing: 4/5

Kateri was the princess of Achra who was tasked with killing twelve of her suitors in arena fights to assert her right to be queen. However, when she realised that her final suitor was a man she wasn't skilled enough to beat, she fled to the ...more

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Nov 26, 2018 Melanie (TBR and Beyond) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: physical-arcs, read-in-2019, books-i-own, kick-ass-females, most-anticipated-2019, ya-fantasy, ya-adventure

“I would be the desert’s justice, mightier than any tiger”

I’m so excited to be reviewing Annie’s sophomore novel Tiger Queen, and I can happily say that she did not fall prey to the sophomore curse with this one. It’s an exciting, unique and empowering fantasy novel that will easily leave readers swept up in it’s dessert setting.

I’ve been lucky enough to call Annie a friend (as many in the online book community have come to) since her debut novel A Touch of Gold was announced. She is such a “I would be the desert’s justice, mightier than any tiger”

I’m so excited to be reviewing Annie’s sophomore novel Tiger Queen, and I can happily say that she did not fall prey to the sophomore curse with this one. It’s an exciting, unique and empowering fantasy novel that will easily leave readers swept up in it’s dessert setting.

I’ve been lucky enough to call Annie a friend (as many in the online book community have come to) since her debut novel A Touch of Gold was announced. She is such a sweet person and so great to her readers – I just adore her. This book means a lot to me because not only did Annie thank me in the acknowledgements of the book, but she thanked my entire TBR and Beyond team – how cool is that? I might have squealed a bit at that! It was such a lovely surprise.

Ok Melanie – stop gushing! Let’s get this review started already! Tiger Queen is a retelling of a famous short story, The Lady and the Tiger. The short story is one that is completely open ended and the readers are left to imagine – well the author has obviously thought about this story a lot and turned the story completely on its head and made her own unique take on what exactly happens after that short story ended. No, you don’t have to read the short story to go into Tiger Queen – the author sets everything up for you from beginning to end.

Our protagonist Princess Kateri is reaching the age where she must prove to her people and father that she is worthy enough to rule the kingdom when the time comes. To do this she will be tested, she must fight 12 suitors that have come to marry her (and take their spot ruling the kingdom), but if she can win all 12 battles then she not only wins the kingdom, but her right to make her own decisions. Her father, the King has been brutally training her since she was young, to be able to fight in these battles. He has shown her little compassion but Kateri still seeks nothing more than his acceptance and thinks she will finally get it if she can prove her worth in the battles.

On the other side, we have the Desert Boys lead by the charismatic Cion. They are considered thieves and rebels and a complete plague on the city, at least according to the palace. The city is in a massive drought and people are getting sicker and dying because of it. Cion and the boys have taking water from the palace wells for themselves and others – we have a little Robin Hood vibe going on here I think. The palace has been trying to track down the Desert Boys hideout without no results but that may all change.

I don’t want to go any further than that, you should read the book and let it unfold. From there we get lots of betrayal (lots!) – Kateri and Cion have to work together despite their feelings towards each other and a lot of hard choices have to be made. Guys, it gets pretty intense – there are even hungry freaking tigers!

I loved the characters in Tiger Queen. Kateri does start out very frustrating, I’m not going to lie. I wanted to slap her many times over in the beginning, but I promise she grows and evolves and I loved her to pieces by the end of it. Cion is a great male lead, loved his compassion, strength and, of course, banter. The world building is strong in this one, I feel like the author took the time to set everything up, so you could really imagine everything going on. Keep a drink of water close by – you will get thirsty! The battle scenes were epic and exciting. I loved the mythology that is woven into the story and build up at the end definitely paid of. Overall, I highly recommend checking this desert fantasy out. Also, it’s a standalone! We love a fantasy standalone from time to time! ...more

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Mar 28, 2019 Amy Imogene Reads rated it it was ok

Shelves: ya-fantasy, arcs-reviewed, read-in-2019

2.5 stars

Unfortunately, this was a huge miss for me.

Concept:
Execution: 1/2
Characters:

Tiger Queen was a story that I was incredibly excited to read given it's description: A princess is tasked with proving her worth to her kingdom by fighting her potential suitors in a once-a-month arena battle in front of her kingdom. If she can beat 12 suitors in the year of her majority, she proves her worthiness.

What the synopsis doesn't describe: this seemingly warrior-woman story is completely ...more

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Mar 31, 2019 Carol (StarAngel's Reviews) Allen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc-reviewed, historical, 4-or-more-stars, fantasy, net-galley-review

Book – Tiger Queen
Author – Annie Sullivan
Series – Stand-Alone
Cliffhanger? - NO
Publication Date – September 10, 2019
Genre – Fantasy/Retelling
Rating – 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Complimentary copy generously provided by the author through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts - Story

I had no idea this was based on the story “The Lady, or the Tiger” before I requested this book to review.

I instantly fell in love with the story and love when a heroine presents herself as a “bad guy” but ...more

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Jun 17, 2019 Empress Reece (Hooked on Books) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, favorites, netgalley-read, ya, arc, survival, 2019-releases, 2019-read, own-it, romance

This is the first standalone YA fantasy I've read in a long time. It was nice not having a huge cliffhanger at the end, although, I would love to revisit the Kingdom of Achra in a future installment. I really liked the characters, Cion, Princess Kateri and the Desert Boys. They made you want to root for their survival and bring them some water.: ) I enjoyed the desert setting and the world building too. I felt like I could feel the unforgiving sand and the nagging thirst right along with them.

*I ...more

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Aug 22, 2019 Amanda rated it really liked it

Shelves: review-copy, edelweiss, netgalley, kindle, own

You can also read my review here:https://devouringbooks2017.wordpress....

For some reason I didn't have very high expectations when I started reading this book, but it drew me in from the very first chapter. I didn't expect it to be so cultural. Annie Sullivan does an amazing job conveying just how harsh living in the desert could be. The people not only struggle with the heat and lack of water, but also sandstorms, bugs, scorpions and snakes. The harsh realities of desert living are brought to You can also read my review here:https://devouringbooks2017.wordpress....

For some reason I didn't have very high expectations when I started reading this book, but it drew me in from the very first chapter. I didn't expect it to be so cultural. Annie Sullivan does an amazing job conveying just how harsh living in the desert could be. The people not only struggle with the heat and lack of water, but also sandstorms, bugs, scorpions and snakes. The harsh realities of desert living are brought to life in this cultural retelling that I found this book to be a great read.

I really loved reading about Princess Kateri. She lived in a society where strength is the most valued quality and she had to fight suitors to prove her right to rule. Her father had expectations that were extremely high. Anything less than perfection was considerred failure to him. He abused her trying to mold her into being absolutely perfect and she tried so hard to please him. I found this relationship sick, but also easy to understand because every child wants to please their parents. Kateri was uptight and fierce, but throughout the story she grew so much and I wound up loving her so much more by the end than I had at the start of the book.

The plot was really cool. The inclusion of the desert boys really added a unique element to this story. Cion, the leader of the desert boys, was one of my favorite characters . He was a great fighter, but also had a sense of humor and he taught Kateri to loosen up and he added some levity to the story. The scenes wher3e the desert boys have fun in various ways really made me smile and made me feel closer to the characters. There was one twist in the plot that I saw coming, but one that caught me completely off guard. I found myself so invested in this story that at one point I was so angry with a character that I wanted to throw my book across the room. I really didn't anticipate that I was going to enjoy this book as much as I did.

Overall I am super impressed. I didn't think this story would be so cultural, but it was the characters that really got me invested. This was my first read by Annie Sullivan, but now I'm dying to read A Touch of Gold. Annie Sullivan knows how to bring characters to live, balance the heavy scenes with banter or light moments and also write a plot that makes the book hard to set down. Annie Sullivan is an author to pay attention to and I can't wait to see what she does next. ...more

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Jun 15, 2019 Tucker marked it as arcs-to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, arc-physical, owned-physical, young-adult, reviewed

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Nov 05, 2018 Cindy ✩☽ Savage Queen ♔ marked it as to-read

...Princess Kateri as she fights suitors in an arena to win the right to rule her desert kingdom...

Well this is a fun twist

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Feb 27, 2019 ʙᴇʟʟᴀ.: ☾**:.☆*.:｡. rated it liked it

Shelves: arc

ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review (Thank you!)

Tiger Queen presents Kateri, a Princess of Kingdom Achra surrounded by a Desert. Kateri yearns to become the best Warrior in her Kingdom, not just because she desperately seeks her Father's approval, but also because she wants to become the ruler and by consequence, to be free to make her own choices. To do that she has no choice but to fight in the arena.
Kateri wins against almost all of her opponents in ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review (Thank you!)

Tiger Queen presents Kateri, a Princess of Kingdom Achra surrounded by a Desert. Kateri yearns to become the best Warrior in her Kingdom, not just because she desperately seeks her Father's approval, but also because she wants to become the ruler and by consequence, to be free to make her own choices. To do that she has no choice but to fight in the arena.
Kateri wins against almost all of her opponents in the arena, but the last one is someone who is a much skilled, stronger fighter than her, so she has no choice but to ask for help to someone she did not want to. There's also an issue going on with the Desert Boys, a group of outcasts, and children that steal water from the wells and the punishment by law is death by the tigers that the King owns.
To end her last combat she will do everything, even if it means to get to know her enemies. So it begins a journey that will inevitably change her perceptions and beliefs.

I really liked Kateri: she was strong, not just in fighting skills but also, strong-willed, with a strong mind.
I enjoyed the mythical world and the wonderful Desert descriptions. I never had heard about the Lady and the Tiger and I was glad the author did a retelling, otherwise, I would have perhaps never known anything about it.

However, everything else, every character but Kateri was underdeveloped. Villains were predictable and "villainized" to the core, nothing they did surprise me. It disappointed me the overused villain tropes.
Not one single twist in the whole plot that would keep me guessing. From early in the book you already know who are the villains and how they will act. You already know who are the friends and foes and the "secrets".
I'm a sucker for complex characters so it disappointed me a bit. The fighting scenes were written particularly well and Kateri was a good character. The author has a really clear, flowing writing style.
The mythology/traditions/culture/animals the author created was really nice (except for the gross Desert food).
The romance contains one of my absolute favorite tropes and it was sweet, clean and slow-burn which I appreciated....but it suffered from misunderstandings.
Cion was a bit of a contradiction: he was supposed to be the "best of all fighters" and yet he wasn't??? Anyway, I enjoyed watching Kateri's evolution from the beginning to the end.
So, in conclusion, Tiger Queen was an okay read for me. It was enjoyable but not amazing.
I'd recommend this for those who enjoy Asian-Inspired Fantasies with cute romance. ...more

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Dec 05, 2019 Amelia rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, romance, retelling, stand-alone, kick-ass-heroine, action, 2019

This book reminded me of Blood and Sand - they both have kick ass warrior woman as protagonists and it's both set in a sort of desert. I will admit that I liked Blood and Sand more because it was more believable, had writing that was, at least to me, slightly better, and it had lots of other amazing side characters that I loved.

The MC was definitely kick ass and had some mad fighting skills. She's also the future queen and has a strategic way of thinking and is reasonable most of the time. She This book reminded me of Blood and Sand - they both have kick ass warrior woman as protagonists and it's both set in a sort of desert. I will admit that I liked Blood and Sand more because it was more believable, had writing that was, at least to me, slightly better, and it had lots of other amazing side characters that I loved.

The MC was definitely kick ass and had some mad fighting skills. She's also the future queen and has a strategic way of thinking and is reasonable most of the time. She takes what she wants and sometimes acts rashly but she has a nice character development. There's also her father and Rodrick - evil people who I wanted to strangle for their cruelness. Then there's Cion who I couldn't help but call cyan - he's a bit bland. I don't have much to say about him. He was there as a plot device to make the MC see things differently. I though other Desert Boys were more interesting than him.

The plot has a good pace and even though it doesn't have mind blowing twists, it's fun. There's lots of fighting, hiding, training etc. There are also a few twists along the way to make things even more interesting, although you can probably predict most of them.

Now onto the bad stuff:
-the writing is repetitive. I don't know how many times I read that the sand was itchy, they picked up a cup/ladle/etc of water, that her mother was killed by Desert Boys, that she must become a queen...you get the point.
-the romance was unnecessary and totally predictable. This shouldn't have been a love story, at least in my opinion. This should've been just about her battle with her enemies and regaining the throne, while finding a way to fight the drought and keeping her people happy. The romance in Blood and Sand was far more natural and felt like it belong there. This romance felt like it was there just to make the MC more human and layered. I wish they just stayed friends/ allies.
-I don't know how the MC didn't realize her father was a horrible ruler- how she didn't notice the suspicious lack of water, or the secret room, or the fact that she never asked details about her mother's death even though it's her main motive to do anything.

To sum up, it was decent, definitely different and refreshing. BUT. If you want a desert warrior princess MC + great writing + a romance you can actually root for + amazing side characters + slightly better plot - read Blood and Sand XD

...more

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Jul 17, 2019 Kristi Housman Confessions of a YA Reader rated it it was amazing

Shelves: advanced-reader, edelweiss

This shouldn't be too spoilery since we learn a lot in the beginning of the book. I did not include any major spoilers.

I loved A Touch of Gold, but I loved Tiger Queen even more! My only complaint (besides a food thing I'll mention below) is that I want more from this world.

Kateri has spent her whole life living in Achra. After her mother and sibling died, Kateri's father began preparing her to lead. She was told about the history of Achra and how the desert chose the first leader. Achra has ...more

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Jul 27, 2019 Samm | Sassenach the Book Wizard rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019, most-anticipated-2019, own

I received an ARC from the author

It's like The Valiant had a baby with Aladdin but Jasmine becomes the street rat kinda...

This was really cool and honestly a little darker than I was expecting. I am really impressed with how well the battle/combat scenes at the end were written. Only complaint was the epilogue seemed very short and rushed and it just confirmed things I assumed would happen. Also don't think the romance was needed (I feel like I'm saying this on repeat now but don't just add a ...more

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Jul 25, 2019 Brooke rated it liked it

Princess Kateri’s kingdom is suffering from a drought, and with water scarce, people who steal water are punished by being forced to choose between two doors: behind one is freedom, behind the other is a tiger. Kateri will not automatically inherit the kingdom from her father, the King; she must fight in the arena to prove her right to rule. But when her final contestant is announced, she knows she will lose and seeks help from the last person she’d expect.

This story was a retellings of ‘The Princess Kateri’s kingdom is suffering from a drought, and with water scarce, people who steal water are punished by being forced to choose between two doors: behind one is freedom, behind the other is a tiger. Kateri will not automatically inherit the kingdom from her father, the King; she must fight in the arena to prove her right to rule. But when her final contestant is announced, she knows she will lose and seeks help from the last person she’d expect.

This story was a retellings of ‘The Lady, or the Tiger’, and while I’ve not read it, I have loosely heard of the storyline (ironically from a book I read last month).

Let’s talk characters. For the most part, the character development was a bit lacking and villains were bland and simple. The two main villains were predictably typical which was a bit disappointing; “You can’t see light without darkness”, so a protagonists’ character suffers when the villain is mediocre. BUT, I did love the Desert Boys. Their closeness, loyalty to each other, and playful nature reminded me so much of the lost boys and it was by far my favorite part of the story.

The ‘Tiger’ part of the book (wherein criminals choose between two doors, one containing a tiger) was amazing! It offered a different and exciting element to this YA book that definitely sucked me in. Although I do wish there were some more instances of this as well as bloody outcomes. What can I say? I like a little gore…

As far as the fighting goes (and there’s a good bit of it), Cion and Rodric were supposed to be the greatest fighters, and Kateri not far behind, but I was left a little underwhelmed by their abilities… That being said, the action/fighting scenes were well written, intense, and pretty badass!

The romance was bearable, but towards the end it looked like it was going in a certain direction which ended up not happening. I wish that that it had gone in that perceived direction, but it may just be a personal preference. This book was a fun desert adventure and I’m glad I read it, but left me a little underwhelmed as a whole. ...more

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Aug 26, 2019 Kathryn Speckels (Metaphors and Miscellanea) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arcs

Fresh and fiercely feminist, this reimagining of a classic short story delivered the sort of kickass warrior girl action I love to read about. Even better, it belongs to the rare breed of fantasy that takes place in an entirely fictional world but does not rely on magic to make itself unique. But before I get ahead of myself, there’s a bit of explaining I need to do:

I remember the first time I read “The Lady or the Tiger?” back in middle school. It was an interesting read, very short, but also Fresh and fiercely feminist, this reimagining of a classic short story delivered the sort of kickass warrior girl action I love to read about. Even better, it belongs to the rare breed of fantasy that takes place in an entirely fictional world but does not rely on magic to make itself unique. But before I get ahead of myself, there’s a bit of explaining I need to do:

I remember the first time I read “The Lady or the Tiger?” back in middle school. It was an interesting read, very short, but also very frustrating. What sort of author, I asked myself, writes a story without an ending?. (If you’ve already read the story, you can skip the next paragraph.)

For those of you who are not familiar with it, “The Lady or the Tiger?” is a short story about a semi-barbaric king whose system of justice is based around pure chance. Criminals are taken to an arena that has two doors. Behind one door is a beautiful maiden equal to the man’s station; behind the other is a tiger. The man does not know which door is which, but he has to pick one. If he picks the lady, then he is required to marry her. If he picks the tiger…well, it’s a bloody death. One day, the king discovers his daughter (who is also described as semi-barbaric) is having a romantic affair with a man from the palace, which of course is illegal because she’s the princess. The man is taken to the arena as punishment to choose his door. But here’s the twist: the princess is told which door has the lady and which door has the tiger. She knows she can signal to her lover which door to choose. But would she rather send him to a gruesome death? Or to marry another woman, knowing that it would forever mean he can’t be hers? She indicates a door to him. He opens it. And…that’s where the story ends.

At least it was fun to debate with fellow classmates which ending was more likely.

Anyway, I tell you this lengthy anecdote so you know roughly what this novel is riffing on. Fairytale retellings are in vogue right now, but Tiger Queen is based on a slightly lesser-told tale, and not so much a fairytale as a brief meditation on the strength and significance of human emotions.

After that lengthy intro, I’m going to keep this summary brief: if she wants to inherit her father’s kingdom, Princess Kateri must win a series of twelve gladiatorial arena battles. If she loses, the man she loses to will marry her and become king. The kingdom, formerly on an oasis in the middle of the desert, is suffering from a severe drought, made worse by the notorious Desert Boys, who steal more water from the wells than their ration tokens allow. The Desert Boys, led by a boy known as Cion whose swordsmanship is said to be unmatched, also killed Kateri’s mother and baby brother years ago. But when Kateri’s father chooses the despicable Rodric, a cruel and ruthless man—and Kateri’s own trainer—as her final opponent, she puts aside her disgust for the Desert Boys to seek Cion’s help training. Because beating Rodric might be impossible…but marrying him would be the worst fate imaginable.

I was largely a fan of this book, which should surprise nobody. There’s a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance, which is executed incredibly well and is important without overpowering the main narrative, which is that of Kateri’s development. And oh, what great development she gets! At its heart, Kateri’s character arc is one about finding independence and overcoming prejudices. After spending her entire life cooped up in a palace, with very few friends and no real hobbies besides fighting and occasionally reading, Kateri starts the book very emotionally stunted and dependent on others. Her temper is so bad, it is almost embarrassing to read. And while she is skilled with a blade, she is not so adept at navigating social situations. Going out into the desert to join a band of boys she hates on principle, abandoning her life of luxury in hopes of earning her freedom? What better setup is there for her to reconceptualize her privilege and grow to understand what connection really means?

While Kateri herself was great, I also really enjoyed the Desert Boys. Cion is…not what you would expect. In the best way possible; I won’t say more than that. And little Dimic, the seven-year-old lockpick extraordinaire, is adorable and funny and generally just fantastic.

And the setting! Annie Sullivan has built a world complete with its own mythology, justice system (see the two-door choice in the story that inspired this novel), and wildlife, including cactuses that grow spontaneously out of the ground in a matter of seconds. Even the food is unique, consisting largely of snakes and scorpions and lizards and other desert-dwelling creatures. Because of the drought that the kingdom is stuck in, conditions are also oppressively hot and dry, with sand that blows everywhere, even inside of houses—even inside the palace. Not going to lie, I was constantly thinking of that Star Wars quote about sand, how it’s irritating and gets everywhere. And the rage of the people fighting for enough water just to survive comes across as a very natural reaction to such a threat to quality of life.

I only had three gripes, all of them quite small. The first was that not a lot of development is given to the bad guys in this book. I’m not going to explain who they are, because spoilers, but suffice to say we do find out why they do what they do, but only at the most basic level. We never see much expression of complexity from them. Of course, we are seeing them through Kateri’s eyes, which may contribute to that, but it would have been nice to know a little more about possible internal conflicts they may have had, knowing that their actions hurt some while benefiting others. The second is that the epilogue was really odd. I like that it tried to give some idea of the future of the kingdom after the novel’s events, but it felt like an afterthought, just a list of what changes occurred, without the same narrative sense and propulsive writing that filled all the previous pages. It might have been better to just cut it altogether, or replace it with an actual scene instead of basically a series of notes. And the third is…well…why are there no girls in the Desert Boys? Even though Kateri can one-up just about any of them, she is the only girl to actually be a part of the gang. I wonder if some of this has to do with familial expectations for girls versus boys, or something along those lines, but it was a little irritating to see, because there was no good reason for it.

So, while it does have a few small flaws, Tiger Queen was a largely enjoyable read, and I’m rounding a 4.5-star rating up to 5 for Goodreads purposes. Unlike many YA novels today, it isn’t bloated with unnecessary scenes, so it goes quickly and doesn’t drag. Kateri is my favorite sort of female lead, strong both physically and mentally, still figuring herself out but not willing to let anyone make her choices for her. And just like the tigers in the arena, she is hungry—for justice, and for freedom. If you like strong female leads, and even if you don’t usually like fantasy, I would definitely recommend you give this one a go!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Jun 16, 2019 Amber (The Book Bratz) rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, reviewed, young-adult, physical-arc, netgalley, publisher-sent

The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz

Thank you Blink for sending me a copy of TIGER QUEEN in the mail in exchange for an honest review!

I must admit, I never heard of “The Lady, or the Tiger?” before reading Tiger Queen, which is based off the short story. After doing some research and learning more about "The Lady, or the Tiger?" I was really excited to see where Annie Sullivan was going to take Tiger Queen. A fierce desert princess who is hell bent on saving her kingdom? The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz

Thank you Blink for sending me a copy of TIGER QUEEN in the mail in exchange for an honest review!

I must admit, I never heard of “The Lady, or the Tiger?” before reading Tiger Queen, which is based off the short story. After doing some research and learning more about "The Lady, or the Tiger?" I was really excited to see where Annie Sullivan was going to take Tiger Queen. A fierce desert princess who is hell bent on saving her kingdom? Sign me up!

By ancient law in the kingdom of Achra, Kateri must battle competitors to the throne in the arena each month up until her birthday. If Kateri looses, the throne becomes her competitor's and she in return becomes their wife. Luckily for Kateri she has beaten every one of them. When the competitor for her last battle is revealed and Kateri knows she doesn’t stand a chance at winning, but she knows that if this person was to rule, he would destroy the kingdom she swore to her mother she would protect. Achra has been plagued by drought and awful sandstorms making the kingdom dry and arid. The water is rationed and the people are the furthest thing from content but Kateri has hope that if she can win the throne she could restore Achra to what it once was. Kateri, desperate to win does something she never thought to do, she seeks out the Desert Boys a gang that steals water from the wells around the kingdom, to help her defeat her rival. But soon Kateri learns secrets that break her world in half, leaving her behind two doors. One with a tiger and one with a future.

I really did enjoy Kateri’s character and the trials she faced through out the novel. She starts Tiger Queen as the naive princess who “fights” for her people. But really she is only fighting to keep the promise she made to her mother before she died. As a reader you watch Kateri grown through out Tiger Queen. Her eyes are opened and through out the pages you see as her world is flipped upside down and she longs to do what will make things right. In the last pages of Tiger Queen you can’t help but cheer for Kateri and for the battle she is fighting.

I really enjoyed Annie’s writing style and how she described the kingdom of Achra. The poor and dreadful conditions came to life in front of my eyes. In flash backs you could see the kingdom for what it was and for what it could be if Kateri manages to take the throne.

The only problem I had with Tiger Queen was that I felt like some of that characters could be used a bit more time being fleshed out. I wanted to know more about them, what drove them and the circumstances but I feel like it was only brushed over, giving you a taste but not leaving you satisfied. I think if I didn’t find Cion, the leader of the Desert Boys to be underdeveloped I would have falling in love with the romance aspect of Tiger Queen more. I still enjoyed the romance aspect and routed for Kateri and Cion but, I didn’t love it. Where I felt like they lacked, Kateri didn’t. She was developed and relatable. You were able to feel her internal struggles and see that events that made her who she is and will be.

Overall Tiger Queen was a quick enjoyable read that is perfect for fantasy lovers. This is also a standalone which means there was no cliffhanger! I think Annie did an amazing job at wrapping up Kateri’s journey and tying up the loose ends of the last several chapters. Annie Sullivan will be an author I look out for in the future of YA Fantasy and can’t wait to see what she comes up with next! ...more

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Aug 06, 2019 Sammy rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-i-own, arcs

I really liked this story. I think it takes on a lot of issues including abusive family, poverty, and privilege in a well written way. Having not read the short story this book was based off of, it feels original and fun. I enjoyed the roller coaster ride it put me on! Would definitely recommend ...more

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Sep 06, 2019 Christi M rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley, fantasy

When I first read the description I honestly wasn’t so sure about reading a YA fantasy book written where the whole story is set in the desert. With an ongoing drought the kingdom, Achra, has a serious water shortage, meaning there was a whole population in a desperate situation with little hope. People slowly dying of thirst didn’t sound like a fun read. But then I reread the description and thought ‘you know…this one might be good.’ And I was right!

Thoughts:
The Tiger Queen opens in the arena. When I first read the description I honestly wasn’t so sure about reading a YA fantasy book written where the whole story is set in the desert. With an ongoing drought the kingdom, Achra, has a serious water shortage, meaning there was a whole population in a desperate situation with little hope. People slowly dying of thirst didn’t sound like a fun read. But then I reread the description and thought ‘you know…this one might be good.’ And I was right!

Thoughts:
The Tiger Queen opens in the arena. A Desert Boy had been caught smuggling contraband goods into the city. The Desert Boys are infamous because they steal the water from the city, exacerbating an already tenuous situation due to the drought. These boys live out in the desert where no one can survive and the guards have difficulty finding them so they are rarely caught. They also killed Kateri’s mother and baby brother years prior. Within these opening scenes we are quickly introduced to everything at stake: the Desert Boys, the King and his daughter Kateri, and Rodric the captain of the guards. But here we also learn about the underlying tensions and plots – water stealing and then rationing due to the stealing, motives for Kateri’s anger and distrust of the Desert Boys, and the dangers the arena and the desert can bring. Not only is there a lack of water, but the arena holds two very hungry tigers and the desert holds even more dangers, such as sand snakes and scorpions.

To be honest, the middle section is where I will always worry about in a book. Does it keep my interest? Do the secrets get told early enough to where I am not frustrated by lack of knowledge? Is there enough in the plot to ensure it doesn’t feel like it is just filler section? Thankfully, the middle in the Tiger Queen is where the 2nd part of the story begins. The plot and the pacing kept a steady rhythm as Kateri leaves the safety of he city and is introduced to the real desert as well as the Desert Boys and their leader, Cion. Here she requests their training so she can defeat the opponent she was assigned to fight, but first she has to convince them to help her and that she’s not there to betray them.

I truly don’t want to give away too much of the plot. But, I was intrigued by two aspects. First, how little can one human drink each day and still survive? I take water for granted – somewhat. I know we should conserve it as best we can, but I also know that it is always at my fingertips at the press of a button or turn of a handle. But I was equally interested in how much thought I gave the issue of how one goes about controlling an entire population – especially in the desert. And more importantly – why would you want to do that? It makes no sense to me. The lies one would tell to hold onto power often overwhelm my sense of understanding.

This book was a fun read and I loved how time flew by when reading it. It is also a stand-alone fantasy book. Those aren’t easy to find, but you definitely leave feeling that everything is taken care of at the end as the author provides a few ‘where are they now’ moments. Definitely recommend this to those who looking for a YA fantasy adventure and perhaps a hint of romance.

Rating: 5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Blink for the advanced reader copy and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I also want to thank the author for speaking on behalf of the Oxford comma in the Acknowledgment section. It gave me the opportunity to show someone who isn’t quite the believer in that comma and argue my point on why it should be used. ...more

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Apr 04, 2019 Brenda Drake rated it it was amazing

I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I loved this twist on the short story "The Lady or the Tiger." Princess Kateri is such an all-around strong character. The fight scenes were amazing and had me on the edge. I especially liked the close bonds Kateri had to her family and people and her willingness to make great sacrifices for them. The desert setting comes to life with Sullivan's wonderful storytelling skills. And Cion, I have no words other than he grabbed my heart. This fast-paced ...more

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Sep 25, 2019 Teresa rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

Thank you to NetGalley, Annie Sullivan, and Blink (publisher) for the opportunity to read Tiger Queen in exchange for an honest review.

One of the draws for me was the phrase “Fans of…Meagan Spooner will devour this retelling.” As some may know, Meagan Spooner has done two retellings that feature a strong female character (Hunted, a Beauty and the Beast retelling, and Sherwood, a Robin Hood retelling). This is a retelling of a short story called “The Lady, or the Tiger?” by Frank R. Stockton. The Thank you to NetGalley, Annie Sullivan, and Blink (publisher) for the opportunity to read Tiger Queen in exchange for an honest review.

One of the draws for me was the phrase “Fans of…Meagan Spooner will devour this retelling.” As some may know, Meagan Spooner has done two retellings that feature a strong female character (Hunted, a Beauty and the Beast retelling, and Sherwood, a Robin Hood retelling). This is a retelling of a short story called “The Lady, or the Tiger?” by Frank R. Stockton. The influence from the short story into this novel is very apparent, and boy does the concept turn into a beautifully fleshed out novel!

Kateri, Princess of Achra, wants nothing more than to rule when her time comes and take care of her people. A drought has been affecting the citizens of Achra since before she was born, and the people suffer and die every day from lack of water. The water is rationed very carefully. Keteri watches those who break the law find judgment in her father’s area. There are two doors, one with a tiger behind, one without, and the choice of the criminal will determine his (or her) fate (similar to the short story). Kateri has seen enough judgment from the tigers. Her father adores the beasts, yet she has feared them ever since he forced her into their proximity as a child.

In order for Kateri to take the throne, she must also be deemed worthy by the desert itself. To prove her worth as ruler, she must fight a noble suitor in the area every month for twelve months until her sixteenth birthday. If someone vanquishes her, they get to take her as a bride and rule, but if she wins, she rules and has a choice on how to rule. When her father gets closer and closer to Rodric, a man who came from the desert, killed the captain of the guard, and proved himself worthy to become the new captain, Kateri starts to wonder if her father is a justified ruler. When Rodric is announced as Kateri’s last opponent, she knows she will lose, so she runs away to find Cion, the leader of the Desert Boys, to help her train so she may beat Rodric and bring her people water and happy lives.

The Desert Boys are seen by the people as a band of murderers and thieves who take water or kill for their needs. Rumor has it the Desert Boys killed the Queen, Kateri’s mother, and her infant sibling. Cion agrees to train Kateri in order for her to beat Rodric, with the agreement that the Desert Boys will have enough water rationed to them, as well as justice, for they are not what they are said to be. When Kateri helps the Desert Boys and gets to know them, she sees a side of them she never thought possible after the murder of her mother and sibling, but Cion reveals some shocking information not only about the death of her family members, but also about the control of the water. Kateri begins to question her father and already despises Rodric, and as the Princess, she must find a way to win in the arena to save the people of Archa, the Desert Boys, and herself from a most despicable fate.

A great deal of imagery reminds me of both Aladdin (Kateri running from the city, desert setting, fancy palace) and Aladdin and the King of Thieves (the Desert Boys). I like the characters and the plot and find taking an idea from a short story and shaping it into such a lush novel is amazing. While I enjoyed the plot, it felt rather familiar, like I’ve read this book before, yet I haven’t.

The ending was mostly what I expected and it was rather satisfying. Overall, a great stand-alone novel with a strong female lead that I would recommend for teens. ...more

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Sep 04, 2019 Megan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance, fantasy, adventure, retellings, young-adult

This story captivated me from the first page! “Tiger Queen” by Annie Sullivan has an “Aladdin” feel to it, with a “Mulan-like” heroine; yet it manages to be its own unique, amazing story!

Ms. Sullivan’s book is a retelling of a short story by Frank Stockton called “The Lady or the Tiger?” In “Tiger Queen,” Princess Kateri realizes that there’s a whole new world outside of her palace; one where it’s not all about her. And the things she thought she knew and believed are challenged. She finds that ...more

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Sep 12, 2019 Caroline rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-in-2019, 4-stars

This book was just such a fun and exciting read. It give me slight Aladdin vibes and it just worked so well!

I devoured this book is less then two days and after I finished, I was immediately sad it was over.

I loved how powerful and independent our main character, Kateri, was, and how she handled herself around everyone at the palace.

It's not often that you read a book set in a desert, and it's probably because it's not very descriptive to write just about a desert, but Sullivan pulled it off ...more

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Mar 16, 2019 Namera [The Literary Invertebrate] marked it as did-not-finish

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, arc

ARC received in exchange for an honest review - thank you!

The writing was pretty good, but the story just felt too simplistic for me to really get behind it. The villains were very villainous, the good guys were very good... the only exception is the heroine, who starts out delightfully conflicted, but quickly sees the error of her ways (and thus loses my interest). An uninspiring love interest seals the deal.

Honestly, this is probably more of an 'it's not you, it's me' thing.

[Blog] - ...more

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Apr 03, 2019 Carly rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc

So while I defiantly figured out the way this was going to go (I never read the book or short story it was based off) I really enjoyed it!

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Oct 22, 2019 Ayten Shehata rated it it was amazing

Such a fast fun read! Loved it

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Sep 06, 2019 Leelynn (Sometimes Leelynn Reads) ❤ rated it really liked it

Full blog tour post for Fantastic Flying Book Club on my blog Sometimes Leelynn Reads with a playlist and dream cast because those are hella fun, okay?

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley, Fantastic Flying Book Club, and BLINK for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

Murder, Violence, Death, Betrayal

None explicit

Okay, ...more

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Aug 31, 2019 Stephanie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own

Blog | YouTube | Instagram

I buddy read this book and am pleased to say that I absolutely enjoyed this! I loved reading about the characters and the plot as well as the romance that obviously took place. This was a very fast-paced novel and I am so glad that I picked up this one because Annie's debut novel, while good, wasn't amazing for me and this one definitely surprised me.

The one part that I found extremely fascinating was the fact that this book incorporated a lot of elements from other ...more

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Jan 16, 2019 ♠️ TABI ♠️ marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

a ruler must fight gladiatorially to prove herself fit for her kingdom??

SIGN ME UP

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Apr 17, 2019 Serethiel ☽ ✨ is currently reading it

Shelves: netgalley-approved

um, a retelling of the lady or the tiger??? I'VE BEEN WAITING MY ENTIRE LIFE FOR THIS ...more

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Aug 08, 2019 Jenni Sauer rated it it was amazing

As soon as I saw this announced I knew I needed to read it- it’s “Lady or the Tiger?” (my favorite short story) meets an Arabian inspired desert world. So when I was beyond thrilled when I received a free e-copy for review from Net Galley.

This book isn’t at all what I imagined but I’m okay with that because it was amazing. The story world is vast and vivid and so well developed. The characters are dynamic and real. The plot is intense and gripping. The retelling elements are so fantastically As soon as I saw this announced I knew I needed to read it- it’s “Lady or the Tiger?” (my favorite short story) meets an Arabian inspired desert world. So when I was beyond thrilled when I received a free e-copy for review from Net Galley.

This book isn’t at all what I imagined but I’m okay with that because it was amazing. The story world is vast and vivid and so well developed. The characters are dynamic and real. The plot is intense and gripping. The retelling elements are so fantastically done.

It’s funny because this book has a lot of things that usually draw me away from a book- a lot of training/fighting scenes, a closed off main character, not a ton of friendly/playful character interactions (at least not for a while). But the author does such an amazing job pulling you into the story regardless. Kateri isn’t someone I would usually connect with and as a character she has so many walls it’s hard to fully get to know her, at least at first. But the author lets us see beyond the pride and the ferocity she wears like armor into the pain its hiding. You see tiny gaps in her walls, chinks in her armor, that let you know this character is worth loving, even if she doesn’t believe that herself. Her growth is amazing and happens in ways I didn’t expect but felt so natural and real. And then once she starts to let people in, just a little, you’re introduced to a whole world of wonderful characters that you won’t be able to help loving.

The story does a good job following the elements created in the original short story it’s based on while also knowing when to deviate. Even the ways it’s different it does a good job paying homage and respect to the original tale. The author is on no mission to fix or change the original story (a problem I often find with retellings) but instead has taken a beloved tale and is making it her own.

The story was twisted and unexpected. Even the things I guessed were going to happen came about in unexpected ways. I had a sense of knowing how the book might end (or at least a guess in what direction it was going) but finding myself wondering how that was going to come about. The biggest piece of writing advice all writers receive is “give your readers what they expect in the most unexpected way” and the author NAILS that. Everything that happens felt natural to the flow of the story. But it’s not predictable.

Speaking of natural- I love the way the romance progresses. It’s gentle and slow and just sort of sneaks up on you, the way love often does in real life. It’s not forced or steamy or even really a driving point of the story. But it’s there and it’s natural and I SHIP IT SO HARD

I absolutely loved this book. I’m excited for its release so I can read it again and pester all my friends to read it. It’s everything I wanted it to be and nothing that I expected. And I love it.
...more

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Jun 10, 2019 Amusing Muses rated it really liked it

A little about how I came to discover Tiger Queen. Prior to BookCon, I started following some of my fellow book lovers in the Facebook Group for the convention. Among them was Annie Sullivan who was promoting her new book Tiger Queen. I feel like I had been vaguely aware of her previous novel Touch of Gold, but I hadn't read it.

Over on Annie's Instagram, she read a few lines from chapter one and I decided that I would see if I could get the ARC (Advanced Reader's Copy) while at BookCon. The A little about how I came to discover Tiger Queen. Prior to BookCon, I started following some of my fellow book lovers in the Facebook Group for the convention. Among them was Annie Sullivan who was promoting her new book Tiger Queen. I feel like I had been vaguely aware of her previous novel Touch of Gold, but I hadn't read it.

Over on Annie's Instagram, she read a few lines from chapter one and I decided that I would see if I could get the ARC (Advanced Reader's Copy) while at BookCon. The story was pretty fresh in the YA world from what I could tell and I'm glad to say that I was not disappointed. While I didn't get a chance to meet Annie or get the ARC at BookCon, I was able to get a digital copy from another ARC source online.

The novel follows Kateri as she battles for the right to rule the kingdom that is meant to fall to her. Set in the desert after a lengthy drought, there are water rations keeping the population thirsty and hungry. There aren't a ton of YA novels set in the desert in general. The only other one that I've come across that I can remember right now are the stories that make up Assassin's Blade; most everyone else goes with a forest or a seaside town. The desert proves to be its own character throughout the story as it helps to layer the plot with additional sources of fodder for the storytelling.

I enjoyed the fact that Kateri was strong and willing to train. She didn't have a doe-eyed entitlement or a "god given talent". She just seemed like a regular ol' princess fighting her way through the evil that was consuming everyone's lives. She wasn't the best trained assassin in the world, but she was willing to learn to be as good as she could be

One of the other things I really loved about the novel was that romance, while nice, was not the main character's sole goal. She's trying to save her kingdom. She barely even notices another person in a romantic light until maybe half way through the book, and even then she doesn't sit around obsessing over it. Maybe I've just been burned by YA before to where I can't stand that trope (I'm looking at you Dorothy must die and Alice in Zombieland).

Tiger Queen is a great adventure tale with enough twists and turns to keep you intrigued and interested as to where the story is going to take you. My only real complaint is that it wasn't long enough! Definitely would recommend that you pick this one up if you get the chance.
...more

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