1. A Queen's Game

1. A Queen's Game. Katharine McGee. 2024 [November]. 368 pages. [Source: Library] [YA Historical, YA Romance, YA Fiction] [3 stars]

First sentence: May of Teck hated weddings.

Premise/plot: A Queen's Game is YA historical fiction. The three main characters--protagonists--were historical figures, in varying degrees of royalty. Many of the "main" characters (and/or their love interests) were grandchildren of Queen Victoria--though not all. The three young women at the center of this one are May (May of Teck, aka future Queen Mary) Hélène d’Orléans (daughter of an exiled King of France), and Alix of Hesse (aka future Empress of Russia). 

The book follows the ups and downs of their love lives--or lack thereof. May of Teck is descended from a first cousin of Queen Victoria, she's always been on the fringe instead of front and center in the royal family. She has ambitions of marrying *into* the family but Queen Victoria may have other plans for her grandsons. A fictional American, Agnes, tries to influence May of Teck to be more bold, daring, ambitious, to fight dirty. WHY? No one quite knows except the book needs to be more Gossip Girl.  Hélène follows her heart and gives into her passions--quite literally, of course. Of the three narrators her chapters almost always lead to some degree of smut. Alix's story has its own obstacles--from within and without--she is falling head over heals in love with he who would be the next Tsar--Nicholas. Everyone opposes the match. She has her own reservations--though real or fictionally imagined who knows--because of medical/genetic concerns.

My thoughts: The book does NOT give a year (which in my opinion is a CRIME for historical fiction based on real people and somewhat real events). My best guess is 1890 to 1891. One of the love interests dies in  January 1892, so definitely before then. Could it be set earlier? Sure. 

The book is driven by gossip, scandal and/or the potential of such. It is frothy for sure. Like in her American Royals series, this has alternating narrators, the male love interests do not get their own point of view although they play huge roles in all the chapters. 

It is on the lighter, frothier, fluffier side of historical fiction. But it might serve as an introduction to a later period of the British royal family. Teens may not be familiar with all that happens next in their stories.

 Wikipedia links
Mary of Teck (referred to throughout the book as May)
Alix of Hesse (Alexandra Feodorovna) 
Hélène d’Orléans
Prince "Eddy" (aka Albert Victor Christian Edward, Duke of Clarence)

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