The Hundredth Queen

The Hundredth Queen by Emily R. King

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I tragically did not review the book when I read it the first time. Emily R. King is an excellent author and if she did not outline this book prior to writing it, she's a remarkable "seat of the pants" writer. "Outliners" near always have tidy plots that are a joy to read. "Pantsers" are fun too, you're as surprised as they were when they write something. This one was brilliantly tidy. Having read it, I know that she knew how the book would end before she finished the first chapter.

That's a spoiler by the way. Now you know that there are things in chapter one that are relevant in the climax of the book and beyond.

Briefly, Kalinda lives under a monarchy, but she is physically in a 'far off' monastery type of place that is a woman only facility. The monastery is funded by 'benefactors', who from time to time show up to "claim" a woman as wife, mistress, or some other form of chattel.

TRAGICALLY... THERE ARE SPOILERS AHEAD, not the "ruin the book" kind, but spoilers. Not the kind you can blank out and still have the review seem coherent. I do recommend the book later...


In Kalinda's case the benefactor who claims her is the monarch. Kalinda is to be his hundredth wife, which is of considerable significance for a number of religious reasons.

Being chosen is the worst thing Kalinda thinks could happen to her regardless of who it is. The monarch only makes it infinitely more grievous and complicated.

If I might criticize the book... it would be that fully one third of it is Kalinda's travel from the monastery to the palace for her wedding. While there's enough going on to keep you reading, it isn't much more exciting than driving from Los Angeles to Sacramento on I5. In fact, it is a bit analogous. If you've made the drive, you could say, OK, I see that: there is "Cajon Pass", Bakersfield, and Fresno… a few things happening during the travels. In the book though there is implied sexual tension that you won't get while driving from Los Angeles to Sacramento. At least not if you are driving alone.

Even though Kalinda is the chosen 100th wife, if she were to post that on Facebook it would NOT be "in a relationship", it would read, "it's complicated".

I want to recommend the book. It is dressed up like a romance novel, and written a bit like one in places, but this book was written by an impressive author who appreciates her audience and demands excellence from herself in her writing. You could develop a relationship with an author like this. So much so, I've already grabbed up three more of her books and audiobooks.

Before revising this review (which you've read), I glanced at my notes. I did not write many notes but the notes I did write were pretty detailed about the prologue. Maybe this is a memory thing, I confess... I forgot I read this book, but from my notes, I don't think there is much of anything related to the book in the prologue. There is a couple passing comments, but the prologue appears to have taken place entirely outside of the geography of the novel.

Well, I know there are at least 2 more books, probably 3 in this series, so the prologue may be relevant at some point.

If you read this book I believe you'll enjoy it and continue with the series. It is not a dull book.

I read The Hundredth Queen (again) in 5 sessions on May 2, 3, and 6, 2019. I previously read it on June 6 through August 2, 2017. I previously "really liked it" (4 stars) and now I remember why, and agree with my good choice. Tragic that I write of my previous reading as if it was a mystery to me, but it was. I suppose that will become a serious issue as time passes.

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