Contest of Queens (Large Print Edition) (1) (The Frean Chronicles)
Jordan H. Bartlett
In a Queendom divided, can one girl unite the realms? Jacs, an inventor’s apprentice from the Lower Realm, has only ever dreamed of what the land among the clouds holds. That is until she finds a letter from Connor, an Upperite boy hoping to learn more about the land below. Little does Jacs know, Connor is actually Prince Cornelius of the Queendom of Frea. With wooden boats and hot air balloons, the two begin a secret correspondence. But their friendship is divided by a heavily-guarded bridge and an inescapable prejudice. The strength of their bond was thought to transcend distance and time, but when the royal family visits the Lower Realm, the Queendom’s feud is reignited. To save her people, Jacs must infiltrate the Upper Realm and earn her place to compete in the Contest of Queens. In a story about friendship, love, bravery, and defying gravity, Jacs will strive to prove that a Queendom is strongest when united.
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First, I want to say that it was exciting and refreshing to read a book set entirely in a matriarchal society. A Queen ruler has all the power, and the guards/knights are all women. That’s not to say ALL stereotypical gender roles are reversed; Men are just only seen as productive manual laborers while only women are doctors/healers, inventors, etc.
Then there is the world-building to talk about. The medieval, but steampunk feel of the setting creates a timeless, fantasy feel to the Upper & Lower realms. The conflict and prejudice between the two people was thoughtfully laid out for the reader & you can feel the tensions in every interaction.
I was drawn into the story from the very beginning and I did not put the book down until I finished it. Just when you think everything has worked out, you are left with a cliffhanger. I can’t wait to find out what happens next for Jacs & Connor and what other obstacles they will have to overcome on their new paths.
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