Another one I just couldn’t put down is releasing today!
Thank you Grey’s Promotion’s for the gifted ebook copy
THE LOST DEER QUEEN – H.J. Nichols (Releasing February 25th, 2025)
Available now for download and on Kindle Unlimited!
Book Description:
Five princes. One choice. Will she make the right one?
When the High Family of the Woodland Kingdom is found murdered, Mae Bailey, a small bookstore owner and deer-Fae hybrid, finds herself crowned the new High Queen. But Mae can’t rule alone.
She must choose one of the five eligible High Princes to rule beside her, while also trying to solve the mystery of who killed the High Family. As Mae forms stronger relationships with each High Prince, she also learns that dark magic has begun to seep into the kingdom.
Who will Mae choose to rule beside her?
And will it end up being the person trying to ruin her kingdom?
The Lost Deer Queen is a tale of witty banter, yearning romance, and deadly secrets. TLDQ is a new-adult fantasy romance with mature elements that may be triggering to some readers. Please check the full list of content warnings.
My Thoughts: 5/5 stars
Just to preface this book – this does deal in self harm. The author does approach the topic well and handles things thoughtfully. There is one scene in the book where it is depicted on the page and another where it is discussed between our FMC and one of the Princes.
Mae is just your average deer hybrid with her perfectly average life. She is living her dream of owning a bookstore and working with her best friend, she loves her home, and while her love life isn’t perfect, she’s not lonely. One day her entire world changes when she received a summons from the High Court. A million things run through her mind but the one she never thought possible is that she is the heir to the throne. After the murder of her father, the King, her stepmother the Queen, and her half sister the princess, she is now forced to face the reality that she is next in line to the throne and needs to have her coronation ASAP, oh, and find a husband within a couple of months. Coming to terms with her life upending, her new duties, and the fact that the father she never knew ended up being the King of the realm.
Now, we get a sort of Bachelorette type dating in this book. Five High Courts, five princes that are hoping to become the High King alongside Mae, and all within a few months (which shortens into mere weeks after some events). Mae is witty, fun, and stubborn. However, she is open to learning and accepting of her new role while trying to mourn the life she never had. I loved the princes and learning bits and pieces of the other courts, but I think my favorite was Elle, Mae’s new advisor and close friend in the castle. Despite being able to guess about halfway through the twist on who killed her family, I wasn’t expecting how the ending was going to play out, so that kept it exciting.
I never would have guessed this was a debut novel. While I haven’t read a ton of recent romantasy books, I’d say this would fall into that genre. We have beautiful world building that isn’t a chore to get through – I think the author was able to give us all of the information we needed in the beginning and continued to branch out as we met characters from the other high houses. I think it’s best to know this before starting because I know when you get into the genre of more high fantasy, that needs a different kind of mood for a reader! I can’t wait for book two and it needs to get here ASAP.
About the Author:
Hannah lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband and three rescue dogs. Hannah is an upcoming author who is excited to release her debut novel, The Lost Deer Queen. When she’s not reading, she is playing soccer, running, or curled up on the couch with her dogs.
Connect with H. J.
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