The Queen's Card by Erin Archer
Series: Book 1 of 2: Fairytale Tarot
on February 24, 2025
Published by Night Waltz Press Genres: Fiction / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy, Fiction / Fantasy / Epic, Fiction / Fantasy / Paranormal, Fiction / Fantasy / Romance, Fiction / Romance / Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Adaptations, Young Adult Fiction / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Country & Ethnic, Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Epic, Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Romance
Format: ARC
Pages: 260 
Goodreads
Buy on Amazon
Source: NetGalley and the Publisher
The Queen's Card: A Sleeping Beauty Retelling by Erin Archer
My rating: 3 of 5 starsThank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Erin Archer for the opportunity to read an early copy of The Queen’s Card in exchange for my honest review.
This was a beautifully imaginative start to what could become a truly captivating series. From the opening chapters, I was pulled in by the richly detailed worldbuilding and the creative spin on fairytale elements. The use of tarot magic was unique and intriguing, and I loved spotting nods to classic tales like Sleeping Beauty and Snow White, (though I wouldn’t exactly categorize this as a straightforward retelling.) There’s definite potential in this concept and universe.
The first third of the book felt strong and immersive, but as the story progressed, I found myself skimming more than I wanted to. The pacing became noticeably rushed, especially when it came to the romance. Mira and Bael had the bones of an interesting dynamic, but their emotional connection wasn’t fully fleshed out, making the love story feel a bit more convenient than earned.
There was also a lot going on plot wise for a short novel, and unfortunately, much of it was left under explained. Key aspects of the world, like the royal family’s lineage, the fate of Mira’s parents, and even the foundational rules of the tarot based magic, felt a bit vague or brushed over. I also would have loved more depth when it came to the main character herself. We don’t get too much insight into Mira’s background, personality, or her relationships with anyone, which made it difficult to fully connect with her as a heroine.
That said, the book is a fast read with clear ambition, and I did enjoy the atmosphere and the promise of the larger narrative arc. I truly believe this story would have benefitted from being expanded into a much longer book or even two books, giving the characters and plot room to develop and breathe.
I’m hopeful the future books will take the time to explore more of the lore, the emotional layers, and give us a stronger sense of who these characters are and why we should root for them. I’ll be keeping an eye out for what comes next in the series.
I give it a solid 3.5 stars
Spice Rating; 🌶️ (Some Kissing)
This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.
I received this book for free from NetGalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
| Rating Report | |
|---|---|
| Plot | |
| Characters |  |
| Writing | |
| Pacing | |
| World Building | |
| Overall: | |
