Review: The Queen's Poisoner

The Queen's Poisoner by Jeff Wheeler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a Kindle First offering which can be hit or miss for me. This was definitely a hit. I was surprised to enjoy it so much. Owen Kisskaddon is eight years old, and when his father refuses to support his king in battle, Owen is sent as hostage to live in the royal palace at Kingfountain. Owen is terrified by his new life; King Severn is considered a monster by many of his subjects. His day includes breakfast with the king and a host of other young hostages, where the king purposely attacks their vulnerabilities and fears. The king is "Fountain Blessed" with the power of persuasion, and he gathers his power by these attacks. Owen soon makes some powerful friends, including a mysterious woman know as the Queen's Poisoner. She suspects that Owen is also Fountain Blessed and begins to help him discover the depths of his power.

The story was inspired by England's War of the Roses, and King Severn is Wheeler's Richard III. I liked the way history and fantasy were woven together, and I liked his main characters, Owen and Elizabeth Victoria Mortimer. This is billed as a "Teen and Young Adult" novel on Amazon, but it's definitely one of those books that isn't confined to one age group. I will be reading the next volume in the trilogy when it's published.

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