Book Review: God Save The Queen

Author: Kate Locke
Publication Date: July 3, 2012
Publisher: Orbit
Series: The Immortal Empire #1

Queen Victoria rules with an immortal fist.
The undead matriarch of a Britain where the Aristocracy is made up of werewolves and vampires, where goblins live underground and mothers know better than to let their children out after dark. A world where being nobility means being infected with the Plague (side-effects include undeath), Hysteria is the popular affliction of the day, and leeches are considered a delicacy. And a world where technology lives side by side with magic. The year is 2012 and Pax Britannia still reigns.

Xandra Vardan is a member of the elite Royal Guard, and it is her duty to protect the Aristocracy. But when her sister goes missing, Xandra will set out on a path that undermines everything she believed in and uncover a conspiracy that threatens to topple the empire. And she is the key-the prize in a very dangerous struggle.

This cover is one of the most vibrant and awesome covers that I have seen this year. It’s no secret that our heroine is a bad ass chick and her attitude definitely does itself justice on the front cover. I love her hair and her outfit and I love the way that she is fashionably holding that gun like she is so confident in herself and her ability to use it. Her outfit resembles a mix of steam punk and gothic features, as well as the background directly behind her. Once I read the synopsis I was so thrilled to learn that Xandra would be dealing with all kinds of mythical characters, including goblins.  

This book has been one of the most enjoyable books that I have read in awhile. I say this because I love the mixture of the supernatural and mythical world that Kate creates in this book. I mean we are dealing with Vampires, Werewolves, Goblins, and humans that can be half breeds too. The fictional world that Xandra Vardan is living among is so dark and unnerving, so much so that she never knows what is waiting for her around every corner.

Xandra, as a character, is a phenomenal one. She is such a kickin’ chick! She works for the Royal Guard and her job is basically that of law enforcement. She has to be highly skilled and trained to fight any kind of supernatural evil that she might face. She is in great shape, has great hair, a snarky attitude, and she is packing heat to top it all off! She is not the type of chick that you want to mess with, and when she finds out that her baby sister is missing her defensive side goes into hyper drive. She stops at nothing to find the truth. She is determined and very innovative, and let’s just say that no one tells her “no” and lives to tell the tale! This book is worth reading just to follow Xandra and admire her spunk.

The supernatural world that Kate has created is out of this world and,as I have not really started trying to write a book yet, I cannot imagine how authors create such vast and remarkable worlds. There is even a different lingo/slang that Xandra as well as all of the other characters use. A glossary is provided explaining certain words and what they mean such as “halvie” which means half-blood. This story is taking place in Britain so actually trying to say the words with the British accent only makes the story seem more real. I just feel like inventing a lingo is the work of a dedicated author and one who knows exactly what she wants from the world and the characters that she or he has envisioned!

I can really appreciate the family bonds that Xandra and her siblings possess in this book. She goes above and beyond when she finds out that her sister is missing and in my opinion more books should be build on stories like this one. The determination of Xandra and her sister, Dede, is very honorable. They are both fighting for two different causes and are able to reason with one another as not only sisters, but rather best friends. This book details so many things and I highly suggest picking up a copy for yourself. I can’t promise that Xandra’s world is not dark and dangerous, but I can promise that she is strong and more than capable of protecting you along the way!


***A copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review***