Format: Paperback, 432 pages
Release Date: March 7, 2023
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Source: Publisher
Genre: Fantasy / Epic
Magic reigns, plots abound, and a new love might not conquer all, in this must-read finale to the epic Gargoyle Queen trilogy by international bestselling author Jennifer Estep.
Time is running out for crown princess Gemma Ripley. Despite being a cunning spy and a powerful mind magier, Gemma hasn’t been able to track down the most dangerous enemy her kingdom of Andvari has ever seen. Adding to her worries is the Sword and Shield tournament. With gladiators flocking to the capital city of Glanzen, Gemma can’t tell who is friend—or foe.
Determined to protect Andvari at any cost, Gemma hatches a bold plan, but things aren’t what they seem. Soon, everything she holds dear is being threatened, including her burgeoning relationship with Prince Leonidas Morricone.
With the kingdom she
holds dear slipping through her fingers, Gemma will have to conquer her
fear and unlock the true secret of her magic—or watch her friends and
family die and her beloved Andvari fall . . .
Conquer the Kingdom is the third installment in author Jennifer Estep's Gargoyle Queen trilogy. This book picks up a few months after the ending of Tear Down the Throne. Gemma Ripley (Crown Princess, Spy, bounty hunter and mind magier), and her friend Reiko Yamato (dragon morph and spy), have been on the hunt for any sign of Milo Morricone and Captain Wexel for their attempts on Gemma's families lives, as well as his intention of using a secretive weapon go destroy Gemma's kingdom of Andvari and take over the entire continent.
With 100,000 gold pieces for Milo's head, he has thus far avoided being seen or captured. After several hits and misses, Gemma prepares to play Princess again for this years Sword and Shield Tournament which is being held this year in Andvari. Gladiators from all over are preparing to battle to see who is the best gladiator. Reiko's former lover Kai Nakamura is the odds on favorite, but the team from Fortuna Island isn't to be taken lightly. Gemma also did the unthinkable by inviting her nemesis Queen Maeven to act as a lure for Milo.
Gemma, who hasn't exactly accepted her powers and often times struggles to use them to save herself and others, isn't always on the winning side of a fight. She is also still playing a long game where she hopes to not only defeat Milo and Wexel, but flip the script on her long time nemesis Queen Maeven who nearly killed both Gemma and Everleigh Blair 16 years ago. It's not always true that villains are what you see. In this book, you get to see a new side of Maeven, and get to know more about who she is not just as a queen, but as a mother and as a person.
But there's also a bit more interesting information on Gemma's long dead mother and her apparently connection to Maeven as well as a prophecy. With her relationship with Prince Leonidas being scrutinized by everyone in Glatzen, and Milo devoting his entire life to Gemma and her kingdom's destruction, one small mistake could spell doom for everyone who is not loyal to Milo. That includes Maeven as well as her daugher Delmira. Meanwhile, Gemma's family is working hard to accept Leonidas, but the people of her kingdom haven’t exactly been welcoming to him, and she isn’t sure if their relationship can withstand the external pressures placed on them.
Without spoiling anything, including the ending, there are some interesting twists to this story, including flashbacks to 16 years ago when Gemma survived, and found her companion gargoyle Grimley. I adore Grimley as well as Gemma's new Strix baby Violet. But there's also a bit more interesting information on Gemma's long dead mother and her apparently connection to Maeven which involves in a prophecy about 3 Queens. See where I am going with this bit? We've already had Everleigh, we now finish with Gemma, so whose next? Could it be a certain Princess from Morta who just happens to help save Gemma? ::wink::
I do suggest that you read these books in order they are released. While the author does a good job of summarizing events, it's better to actually read the books, rather than skip over them to get to the ending.
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