Queen B’s Decree: Devious Prey was such a quick and enjoyable listen. There’s enough world building, suspense, magic, and just that hint of romance that hooks you.
Pearl is assisting her aunt as a smuggler when the airship they are on crashes and they are left stranded on an island with the rest of the passengers; those that survived, that is. That includes prisoner, wizard Marken, a bunch of his guards, and a dragon that Pearl was smuggling in.
The story moved fast, with tons of suspense, plenty of death (sorry, the dragon isn’t a happy camper!), and Pearl and Marken both filled with secrets just trying to survive. I loved getting to know the characters, while knowing that there was more I was missing. Pearl and Marken have the beginnings of a romance but it’s mostly about them working together to escape the island (and the dragon that wants them dead).
I wasn’t expecting the revealed secrets at the end, but it definitely fit the story. The narration was great, and I loved listening. I’ll absolutely be looking for more from this author!
Book: Devious Prey by Scott Reintgen
Series: standalone
Genre: Fantasy/Young Adult
Plot Devices/Tropes: secrets