The Queen's Poisoner

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This book was so amazing! Much more than I expected! Even though the main character is an eight year old boy, there is enough intrigue and secrets to make this a fantastic fantasy novel, especially as an introductory book to a larger series. The world building is small, focusing on the immediate area, but feels complete. There is a larger history outside of the book that makes the story feel real. The writing itself is great; I found myself highlighting so many passages as I read.

The Queen’s Poisoner by Jeff Wheeler starts with a worried wife, waiting for her husband to return to battle. When he does, she realises their political gambit has gone awry, and the King has punished them by killing their son show more and demanding they give him another hostage. They do, a meek eight year old boy named Owen, who miraculously survived his stillborn birth. Watching Owen grow in confidence as he navigates the courtly intrigue is great. He is the perfect focal character that readers can relate to. He has no idea where he is, or why he’s there, just like the reader. It makes what would otherwise be boring and dry exposition on important facts the readers needs to know, exciting and reasonable.

Apart from focal point Owen, we have a spy, Mancini, whom you don’t really recognise the importance of at the start. He just exists as a watchdog, but you grow to realise he is a key player thanks to the character setting all the pieces in motion, the Queen’s Poisoner, Ankarette. She is “fountain-blessed,” someone who was born with gifts such as the gift of foresight. It is Ankarette who sets everything in motion, beginning events that will have far-reaching conclusions in the third book of the trilogy no doubt. She takes over the protector role for Owen and feeds him the information he needs to survive what the King has planned for him. A King who cares little for the opinions of the people, so much so that the reader is left wondering whether the rumours of his kinslaying are true. The characters are all well-developed, fully fleshed, and leave you wondering if everything they say is face value.

Though the world building was constrained to castle life, I expect this to change with the following book in the series as events move North. That said, what we do see is great and feels heavy, as though there is weight to what is being written. There is a history here that the characters all know about and feel, which lends a gravity to the story.

Though this is a fantasy, expect it to be a bit more subtle than a Lord of the Rings, or even ASOIaF. The magic is in the fountain-blessed. I’ve not seen a dragon or a fire-toting wizard. What you do see, and much of, is intrigue! So much juicy intrigue! Everyone is plotting against everyone else for reasons unknown most of the time. Why does the Queen hate the King? What is the Princess’ ultimate goal? Why does Ankarette really want to help Owen? Does Horwath know something? There is so much going on, I just want to know it all!

Thankfully, author Jeff Wheeler plans on releasing the second instalment of the Kingfountain series in May, with the third one scheduled for September. A well-written fantasy series with actual dates for publishing?? Unheard of (I mean look at the Kingkiller series and ASoIaF) and amazing!! Definitely pick this one up, read it, love it, and get ready for the next one!

// I received this title for free in exchange for an honest review // show less

Four chapters

Four chapters, that's how much I could read before putting it down. There's a lot of meandering dialogue - whose sole purpose is to us, the readers, the backstory.
The characters are cookie cutter tropes and the book description misled me to think that this was an adult book - that the book would be about Owen, grown up, navigating the treacherous waters of the king's court. Instead from the few chapters I've read, I can see that this is actually a children's book and I'm not interested in that.

Enjoyable and a quick read. Not quite as character-deep as The Wretched of Muirwood trilogy, nor as well-researched. It's because I read them out of order that I had such high expectations for this one, and it definitely didn't let me down--it just wasn't quite what I expected.

Still. Things I loved: world-building and place description. I loved imagining this world and the court of the King. I also loved the complicated relationships forming in this first installment, and look forward to seeing how wide the branches from these deep roots grow!

Only three stars because I've read better from Wheeler. Still absolutely delightful and entertaining. Read it!

"Too many people are frightened. They want youth to last. They complain bitterly if sickness comes. But the world is always in tumult, and fortunes rise and fall and fail. It is the ambitious who accomplish things. It takes courage to be ambitious, for never was anything great achieved without risk. […] A goal not written down is merely a wish."
-Dominic Mancini, Espion of the Palace Kitchen
(from The Queen’s Poisoner)

Jeff Wheeler's The Queen's Poisoner tells the story of a young boy by the name of Owen Kiskaddon who comes to Kingfountain as a hostage after his father, the Duke of Westmarch, betrays the king in battle. To survive in this strange, new court, full of loyalty and deception, he has to prove to the king that he is worth show more more alive than dead.

I really liked the complex cast of characters in The Queen’s Poisoner. Young Owen was shy and curious, yet very intelligent. Ankarette Tryneowy was secretive and talented, yet very loyal to young Owen. Elysabeth Victoria Mortimer was talkative and brash, but able to keep secrets. Dominic Mancini was ambitious and manipulative, though he had his moments of bravery and sense of the bigger picture, even if it was to secure his own ends. King Severn was thought to be a harsh leader, but Owen soon learns that appearances aren’t everything.

These diverse characters were each working toward their own goals, often in opposition to one another. I really enjoyed the banter between characters, especially that initiated by Elysabeth Victoria Mortimer, or Evie (as Owen calls her), and Owen. I got an overwhelming sense of balance between the characters: between Evie and Owen, between Owen and Ankarette. Each character had their strengths and weaknesses. They all made mistakes, but they are better for them in the end.

The plot was also intricately done, as were the others in this series. All the intricacies of planning how Owen would become valuable to the king, the intrigues and “drama” of the court, as well as other events that unfolded were meticulously done.

You can find this review on my blog, Allison's Adventures into Wonderlands (link below), along with the review for Jeff Wheeler's The Thief's Daughter and The King's Traitor.
https://allisonsadventuresintowonderlands.wordpress.com/2017/08/15/jeff-wheelers... show less

I picked this book up on whim and I adored it from page one. I am not always the used to adult fantasy but this book captured me from page one. It was such a easy book to digest and that is largely thanks to young lead only 8 years old. Owen was the prefect point of view to explore this new world and i loved it. Jeff was also able to find ways to develop this world throughout this read and I grew to love this world and these characters. It was such a special read, I loved it. I found this read to be so charming an I also loved the world that was built that book had so many unexpected twists and turn that kept me on the edge of my seat. I can't wait to read book 2 soon. This is a great read for someone is hoping to dive into more adult show more fantsay reads but they scare them. I found owen POV to be so easy to read from. show less

I was initially drawn in by the plot and promise of court intrigue. The beginning holds a sense of mystery and dread. That dissipated pretty quickly. I wanted to enjoy this book but I just can’t get over the simplistic writing and the author’s preference to tell, not show. I felt like I was reading a children’s novel.

I picked this book up on whim and I adored it from page one. I am not always the used to adult fantasy but this book captured me from page one. It was such a easy book to digest and that is largely thanks to young lead only 8 years old. Owen was the prefect point of view to explore this new world and i loved it. Jeff was also able to find ways to develop this world throughout this read and I grew to love this world and these characters. It was such a special read, I loved it. I found this read to be so charming an I also loved the world that was built that book had so many unexpected twists and turn that kept me on the edge of my seat. I can't wait to read book 2 soon. This is a great read for someone is hoping to dive into more adult show more fantsay reads but they scare them. I found owen POV to be so easy to read from. show less