Review: The Hundredth Queen by Emily R. King

So, I got this as a kindle First book, which meant I got it a month before the release date in the UK. I don't tend to get kindle First books unless they really draw me in with the cover and the description, and boy did this one draw me in.

The cover for this book is amazing, bright reds and golds mix together and with my weakness for nice book covers, I just had to buy it.

 I didn't actually read it until it was released as I was so busy with work, but when I did read it, I was amazed and breezed through it rather quickly for a kindle book!

Anyways, here it is:

As an orphan ward of the Sisterhood, eighteen-year-old Kalinda is destined for nothing more than a life of seclusion and prayer. Plagued by fevers, she’s an unlikely candidate for even a servant’s position, let alone a courtesan or wife. Her sole dream is to continue living in peace in the Sisterhood’s mountain temple.

But a visit from the tyrant Rajah Tarek disrupts Kalinda’s life. Within hours, she is ripped from the comfort of her home, set on a desert trek, and ordered to fight for her place among the rajah’s ninety-nine wives and numerous courtesans. Her only solace comes in the company of her guard, the stoic but kind Captain Deven Naik.

Faced with the danger of a tournament to the death—and her growing affection for Deven—Kalinda has only one hope for escape, and it lies in an arcane, forbidden power buried within her.

In Emily R. King’s thrilling fantasy debut, an orphan girl blossoms into a warrior, summoning courage and confidence in her fearless quest to upend tradition, overthrow an empire, and reclaim her life as her own.

Now, as I said I breezed through this book, and I've even gone through it a second time since the first, as I did love the plot so much. Kalinda, the main character, is an orphan who has lived her life with the Sisterhood, and yet despite her fevers she gets chosen to be the Rajah's 100th wife, where she has to compete with numerous courtesan's to keep that position as his last, and final wife.

I just loved Kalinda, she was feisty, and I like feisty female main characters. I love that she keeps her feistyness despite everything that happens to her in the book, and I was routing for her to fall in love with someone (not the creepy Rajah). However, I must admit that I did think the love between Kalinda and Deven was very quickly built up, but I can't help but love their relationship anyway.

Plus, I love the fantasy part of this book. Bhuta's (people with elemental powers) are trying to regain their lost legacy after it was stolen by the Rajah, and while doing so they mix in with Kalinda and shape her plans for her tournament, while adding a little bit more excitement to the mix of the book!

The ending to this book had me wanting more, which is always a good way to leave it don't you think? And the next book, The Fire Queen (out 26th September) has a description that makes me think there may be a slight love triangle (I like love triangles so here's hoping) so I can't wait to read it!

Altogether, I give this book 4 Cats! (if it was more of a slow-go with the relationship it would have been 5)

Have any of you read this book? Do you agree with my review? Comment below!