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The Companion #6

The Rebel's Queen

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A rising king. A falling queen. An unimaginable love.

Queen Cora is married to a monster. Three years she has played wife, and all she has to show for it is a marked face, an empty womb, and a bitter taste in her mouth best washed away with wine. It is a good thing she is made of something solid, because marriage is a life sentence. Or is it? The rebel prince is coming for the crown. Powers will shift, and loyalties will be tested. As Cora’s future unravels, she must fight to keep hold of her position, her sanity—and most definitely her heart.

Brom is leader of the Nydoen people, a mountain rebel—and next in line to rule. His brother is self-destructing, and the time has come to replace him. He has the love of a kingdom and a clear path to the throne, but not everyone wants him to succeed. War is coming. He is going to need allies if he stands any chance against his enemy. The one they call Ice Queen might be the key. Experienced, intelligent, well-connected. Intoxicating. If he can just find a way to thaw her solid heart, she may prove to be his greatest ally yet.

This is the sixth and final book in The Companion series. If you enjoy a medieval tale with a strong heroine and plenty of action, then you will love The Rebel’s Queen.

Trigger warning: This book contains violence and dark themes.

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First published April 1, 2020

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About the author

Tanya Bird

24 books493 followers
Tanya Bird is a RUBY award-winning author who lives in Brisbane with her hubby, three lively boys, a quirky greyhound, and a lazy whippet. Amid the chaos, she writes across a range romance sub-genres including historical, contemporary, and speculative. She is best known for her dark worldbuilding and high-emotion storytelling. A lover of horses, pancakes, and satire, Tanya dreams of one day attacking her rather long bucket list.

You can find her on Facebook @TanyaBirdAuthor, Instagram @tanyabirdauthor, TikTok @tanyabirdauthor or hiding in the pantry with her stash of chocolate.

Exclusive free reads available at tanyabird.com

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5 stars
302 (65%)
4 stars
114 (24%)
3 stars
37 (7%)
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8 (1%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
Profile Image for Kate.
220 reviews25 followers
April 27, 2020
Big thanks to Tanya Bird for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's amazing because every time I think Tanya's books can't get any better, they do. I loved this book. Cora is the heroine we have been waiting for. She is tough, unapologetic and a warrior in her own right. This story follows her as she comes to terms with the death of her husband and the scars left behind on herself and on her kingdom. We are also introduced to the new hero, Brom (insert hot flashes here). He is a rebel and the new king of Zoelin following his brother's death. Throughout the story, Brom strives to pick up the pieces of his kingdom and his new wife, Cora.

This was such a fun book to read. Cora and Brom are a refreshing power couple who will easily steal your heart. This book is action packed and fast paced. I loved the political intrigue and all the cameos of past beloved characters.

I gave this book five stars because I would easily read it again and recommend it to others.
Profile Image for Kathy.
61 reviews2 followers
April 16, 2020
Rebel Queen is sadly the last book in Tanya Bird's Companion series and might be my favorite in the series and I find myself Team Cora more than Team Aldara.

Cora hasn't been very likable throughout the series but there are reasons why and to fully understand Cora and why she is the way she is you should at least read the first three Companion books because a lot of her backstory is played out in those books. She isn't a villain or an nonredeemable character (I'll save that honor for Pandarus), at least I didn't think she was, but she wasn't nice and had several horse carriages full of emotional baggage.

This book is mostly about Cora and her journey to finding the inner strength to fight for what she wants in her life and to fight for herself. Cora is a complicated woman with a complicated past that has hardened her to everyone around her but I really enjoyed watching her evolve and grow up. For all her faults, all her sarcasm and all her anger, she is able to finally face her demons and make peace with her past and that was very satisfying for me.

The book of course isn't all about Cora, there is her handsome Rebel King, Brom, lots of politics, war, romance and twists. We get to see a lot of past favorites and catch up with them and we are able to say a final good bye to all our favorite Companions. I'm sad to say good bye to the Companion series but Cora's story was a satisfying end to a really beautifully written and sweet series.
Profile Image for Jericho McKraven.
Author 1 book14 followers
November 3, 2020
My favorite books in this series were the first three. I immediately liked Cora, she was so lost and bitter, I knew she was a broken thing and I am so very drawn to broken things.

I loved her story, Brom was perfect for her. And seeing the glimpses of who Cora is (like the broken vases glued together, or her instinct to shelter children) was amazing, but once again I'm left with that feeling of "not enough." It's like when you sit down to eat your favorite food, and it's DELICIOUS, but then it's gone and you aren't even satisfied, much less full.

The story was artfully crafted and hit all the arc points, but I felt like there could have been more. More to let me experience what Cora and Brom were feeling, more letting me see how they grew to love one another. (They were hardly together and that left me wanting.)

I for sure would recommend this to anyone who wanted to return to the Companion world. And there are many who saw this as their favorite book in the series because... well... Cora! But I still prefer Aldara's story, even though it was completely heart-rending.
Profile Image for Anastasia.
267 reviews
June 2, 2020
Omg what can I say about this book.

First of all I hate that it tooke so long to finish it but life happens. But once I found time and got in my hands again then there was no way of me petting it go. Pretty much with every single one of Tanyas books.

This book focuses on Vora and if you're a bit like me than at first you just thought she was just a mean girl who had nothing better to do than get drunk. Now we see the depths under the facade she was putting up and I LOVE THIS.

Cora was someone who just refused to play the happy little wife part. She didn't want that. She is fierce, unapologetic and a true queen who looks after the well being of those that Jayr is doing wrong. She never tried to hide her voice and I love it. She's a gem that is just used to holding.

Brom doesn't mind the work to uncover the gem she's trying to hide and slowly and patiently he is taking down her walls because he knows that there's more to her than what she shows.

I loved seeing characters coming back. I absolutely love Leksi and Coras interactions and they always make me laugh and I can't think of a better conclusion to the series. Even though I'm sad to say goodbye to the characters I came to love and hate -Pandarus I'm talking about - I can't think of a better ending than this.

Tanya always amazes me with how easily I get to read the books without tiring me or needing a break from the book so I'll definitely continue with more of her books.

5 stars is 5 stars too little for this book.
2 reviews
May 5, 2020
First of all I have been waiting for this book to be released for weeks now. I was so disappointed when I could not purchase it straight away as I had read through the previous books rather quickly.

Cora was an intriguing character from the moment she was introduced. She led us on with her careless comments and rude exterior. I did not think Tanya would let us see some sort of redeeming quality about her. Her interaction with Aldara in the chapel was both endearing and saddening.

Anyway, this book was constructive and beautiful written despite how short it is. It both gave me more and leaving me wanting to know more of its world. I loved how Cora comes into her own person as a female in this era. I think we all know she has always been a strong character but to see her growing reluctantly I may say was a relief to myself as reader. Broms character is a great balance to Cora's inner darkness and insecurities. He brings out the best in her and she gives him pure honesty and to see the world as is.

Tanya Bird has done a marvelous job of writing different characters considering the amount of books in this series. This book not only made me feel joy, sadness but also grief. It was really nice to read the interactions between the old characters from the previous book and the new ones. I hope this is not the end of the world.
37 reviews1 follower
April 18, 2020
The Rebel's Queen
This unfortunately is last book in the Conpanions Series and would have to be my favourite, although all of them are outstanding.
This is Cora and Brom's story.
Bromley is my idea hero, he is strong, compassionate, has a good sense of humour, he is also a man with high morals and honor. He can be tough and show no mercy when needed but soft and loving as well.
He sees Cora for the person she is, not the person she shows to the world. Bromley really brings out the real Cora with his love and support. I wasn't a fan of Cora when she appeared in previous books, but by the end of this book she became one of my favourites.
This book had me drawn in from the first page to the last, I couldn't put it down. I cried, I laughed and I held my breath it had everything. It also reintroduced a lot of our favourite characters from previous books, was great to see them again.
I am really sorry this series has finished but I know that the next book Tanya Bird writes will be a joy to read and am looking forward to it.
15 reviews
April 21, 2020
Another absolute pageturner by Tanya Bird! I actually dropped another book I was halfway through, to just get to this one as soon as possible, and it was worth it for sure! Cora was one of my least favourite characters throughout the series, but in this book we finally got some insight in her inner thoughts. I really enjoyed the way she developed in the book (if not throughout the series) and loved getting back to some familiar characters! If you’re into historical romance, this book wil grap you and not let go until you’ve finished it, while making you smile.

Only negative point is the fact that it’s the last book of the companion series... I am going to miss the characters and this world Tanya Bird has created.
15 reviews1 follower
April 27, 2020
Rebel's Queen is the last book in the Companion series. This is Cora’s story , a story of a hardened heart and redemption. In the beginning you as a reader will have a tough time getting to like her. She drinks too much and behaves badly, gaining the title Ice queen. Only through the book do you understand her actions and how she changes. Of course with the help Of Brom her husbands brother and Rebel. Will he heal the kingdom and her heart? This book has romance and adventure, this wasn’t my favorite in the series, I still Love the Aldara and Tyron story the best but this book was a great read and a good book to end the series. I recommend the entire series. Awesome writing and great stories.
Profile Image for Vimbai.
2 reviews
May 14, 2020
There are not enough words to describe how much I loved this book and the whole companion series. From book 1 the characters brought me into their stories and I really felt apart of their worlds and Tanya did this beautifully. The final book was so spectacular to be able to delve into Cora's mind after seeing her throughout the series. I love how strong her character is, feminine yet powerful in her own right, and her connection with Brom was utterly encapturing and even so her character development. I have honestly loved this whole series and am somewhat sad to part with it, but can only thank Tanya for sharing her beautiful work with the world. I will definitely be rereading this series soon!
Profile Image for Keri .
746 reviews19 followers
March 16, 2021
Aaaahhh I'm so sad that this series is over! I am super excited that Cora got her own full book though. I secretly always wanted her with Leksi because they are my two favorite characters but Tanya knows what she is doing and this was just perfection! No one else could love Cora but someone like Brom. He brought out the best in her and she is his perfect queen. Just like in the other books featuring Cora she remains to be the strong and fearless character that I love to read about. She does have her weaknesses and overcomes some of them beautifully. There is also a great amount of action and intrigue in this final book which is one of the things I love about Tanya's books. There is never a dull moment!! As with all the books in this series I highly recommend it!
Profile Image for Amina Khan.
3 reviews
April 20, 2020
This was absolutely amazing. Such a great finale to an epic series. I always liked Cora and her sassiness- she made me laugh as she lived up to “typical, spoilt Princess”, but this was something else. It was great getting an insight into her character and how her outward strength acts as a shield to her inward pain.
And Brom! My God! He was so, so lovely. That’s the only apt adjective word I can use to describe him. Such a lovely soul and he is definitely water to Cora’s fire. They were perfectly matched and I loved seeing Cora’s defences slowly chip away as she let him in.
Thank you for such a great read!
7 reviews
April 24, 2020
The superbly crafted characters in The Rebel's Queen are truly unforgettable. They are such powerful personalities with surprisingly hidden depths. I loved how Cora was so much more than she seemed to be from my previous perceptions of her character in earlier books, she is a true product of her environment and had a real depth to her emotions. Brom was well rounded and a strong personality with a sense of humour but in a quieter and kinder way. The inclusion of characters from previous books was the icing on the cake. The whole series is a must read from a not to be missed author. Thank you for the book, Tanya and I look forward to your next work.
9 reviews1 follower
April 27, 2020
So sad that this is the end of the companion series but so happy it’s the story of brom and Cora .
Tanya spins a web like a spider with a story and we are all little flies getting stuck until the book is finished . I loved it . From start to finish and it was more than I expected . Tanya gave us closure of all characters Nd my heart was smiling at them all . Her use of animals always makes me laugh and just when you think the story is going one way it swerved and heads off in another direction . Do yourself a big favour and download the companion series right now .
You’re missing out if you don’t
2,593 reviews22 followers
April 28, 2020
What a great final story in this series. Cora is one of those gritty characters who has been around causing trouble since book 1. Brom while a relatively new character (just since the last novel) was a great opposite for Cora to come up against. While there is disagreement between the two about who should do what things when, the tension and suspense only add to the story. I absolutely loved how so many of the characters were brought back for the epilogue... a great HEA with a little extra closure for most main characters in previous books.
Profile Image for Tara Leigh.
58 reviews1 follower
April 29, 2020
Such a bittersweet ending to this amazing series! I loved reading Cora's story! The character development was phenomenal and also heartbreaking when Cora revealed her inner thoughts. That is one tough woman though! Get it girl 💪 Not enough words to say about Brom! Great character and I enjoyed learning about him and his background. Without giving anything away, he was able to show Cora her worth and that was the most poignant part of this story. Sad to know this was the last book, but I know every good thing must come to an end!
Profile Image for Sam Lue.
255 reviews6 followers
August 22, 2022
The absolute best book in the whole series! Their story was my favorite, and the one I will be reaching for when I want to revist this world. We saw Cora’s cold exterior, then had a look on why she acted so self-destructive. This book does a great job distinguishing actual villains from complex characters who sometimes make the wrong decision. Brom was a refreshing character in this series. He showed up and easily stole the show. The way this couple communicated and held each other accountable was enjoyable.
Profile Image for Fatima Shabbir.
128 reviews2 followers
Read
March 28, 2023
My favorite books in this series were the first three. I was curious about Cora, she was so lost and bitter, I knew she was a broken .

Brom was perfect for her. And seeing the glimpses of who Cora is (like the broken vases glued together, or her instinct to shelter children) was amazing, but once again I'm left with that feeling of "not enough." It's like when you sit down to eat your favorite food, and it's DELICIOUS, but then it's gone and you aren't even satisfied, much less full.

The whole series was awesome. Each Companion had a story and finally Cora too had a story too.
68 reviews
April 27, 2020
Must it end??

I don't remember how or when I first came across this series but I am SO happy I did. Every story in this series is phenomenal! I can't believe it's at it's end. Cora and Brom's story was EVERYTHING. Tanya Bird is a true gift that keeps on giving. This story, this series, does not disappoint. The Companion series is LIFE. Thank you Tanya, for sharing these beautiful, wonderful characters with the world!
Profile Image for Amanda Castillo.
50 reviews
April 27, 2020
Holy smokes! The Rebel’s Queen was completely AMAZING! I have loved Cora from the very beginning when she made her appearance in The Companion Series! Cora is a feisty, headstrong, unforgiving and fierce Queen! She knows what she wants and DOES NOT take no for an answer. I am so sad that this series has come to an end but I’m so happy Cora finally found love, she deserved it so much for all that she’s been through. I can’t wait to see what Tanya gives us next!
10 reviews
April 28, 2020
This was just what I needed to get out of my reading slump!

Tanya did it again. Her stories never fail to grip me and
make me emotionally invested. Somehow, she took a character that I hated throughout the series and, not only made me love her, made me cheer for her happy ending.

I laughed, snorting ridiculously and scaring my cats. And then I cried to the point my toddler patted my leg trying to comfort me.

Tanya Bird is an amazing author and ended this series with a bang!
145 reviews
April 30, 2020
Finis

It is hard to believe how amazing this book is, it is a a beautiful ending to the series. The story is surprising in its many different facets. Cora has long been one of my favorites in the series. We have characters from the series beginning along adding to the storyline. I won't spoil any of the things to be discovered in reading this book. Ms. Bird has ended the series on a high note.
5 reviews
May 6, 2020
Every time I read one of Tanya's books, I feel like I label it the best book yet. But it's true. I love following in my favorite character's stories and feeling a part of their lives. This book about Queen Cora was fantastic. If you've read her previous companion series books, this is an amazing follow-up book. I'm sad that we won't be able to delve into the lives of or favorite characters, but I will be reading them again in the future when I'm missing them.
Profile Image for Angela Hull .
296 reviews15 followers
May 14, 2020
Long live the Queen!

There was something about Cora that really resonates with me. I see so much of myself in her. Due to circumstances, Cora built walls around her heart. Doing so, left her with a reputation of being cold and ruthless. Somehow, Brom broke through her defenses and in doing so created a whole new queen. This was an exciting ride and while I'm sad to see it end, I'm glad Cora received everything she wanted.
Profile Image for Lilnikki.
8 reviews9 followers
April 22, 2020
This book hooks you in!

Cora’s story makes you feel for her, we don’t realise how hard life was for her and why she developed her coping strategies. Brom is a great character. This book is not what you expect after reading the rest of the series.

This is a great love story and ending to a great book series. 100% recommend
28 reviews
May 3, 2020
Second reading

I rarely read books twice but with Tanya Bird’s books, I found myself returning again and again. I often find things I missed the first reading. Even knowing the main characters will end up together, their conflicts, their life challenges, their personalities and intriguing paths are ultimately enjoyable. I read every book of hers I can find!
78 reviews
May 6, 2020
I found the series by chance but read all the books available for no time. I love the strong female characters all of them, but Cora - she is something else entirely and I think my favorite. I will truly miss the characters they always give you a valuable lesson of how to be a better woman, a better warrior and of course what true love mean.
1 review
April 24, 2020
I really enjoyed how Tanya evolved Cora’s character. At the beginning I didn’t really like Cora, but as her complexities came out and you got to see the other side of her, she won me over. I loved Brom. He was everything Cora needed in a man. What a wonderful way to end a great series.
Profile Image for Savanna Lee.
Author 3 books10 followers
April 29, 2020
A perfect ending to a perfectly written series!

Tanya Bird never ceases to amaze me. This book was so thoroughly addicting and satisfying to read, that I was sad when it was over. Bravo on another page turner. I can't wait to read what you write next!
205 reviews2 followers
May 4, 2020
It's over?

Wow! What a great ending to an amazing series. Can the ice queen melt with a loving king? Years of turbulence have frozen her heart but a new King who is the opposite to her first warms his way into her world. Enjoy their journey together!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews