Title: "Queenslayer" by Sebastien de Castell

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

*spoilers*

Summary:
Kellen accidentally wipes his blood on a flag, and is carted off to be executed for treason. However, he is brought before an eleven year old queen, and becomes her tutor of cards. As Kellen and Reichis settles into palace life, conspiracy and threat of war ruins their peace.


Review:
This feels vastly different from the other books. Within the acknowledgments, the author explains this book was in the rough draft prior to the other four, and it feels it. The tone is different, more swearing and discussion regarding sex.

Trigger warning should have been issued, and one chapter, I skimmed through because it was brutal to read. I was enjoying Kellen's character development, but then the plot took a dark turn.

Interesting card games are discussed; the cultures of the people in the world are rich. We learn more regarding the political aspect of the world. The author has put a lot into this. I was wanting to hear more of Kellen being more confident but then, as mentioned, the plot just... got dark fast.

This book, I did like certain areas, but some of it I was very uncomfortable reading. I have the last book, so will read it. This would have been a two ⭐ if it hadn't been for the fact I was enjoying Kellen's development; it was difficult to rate this. This book was the odd one out in the series.

Again, the illustrations are beautiful. I believe, they are done by a different illustrator but they are gorgeous still.