Book Review: Long Live the Queen by Kate Locke

Long Live the Queen

By Kate Locke

Release Date: November 12, 2013

Source: Library

Summary: Xandra Vardan thought life would be simpler when she accepted the goblin crown and became their queen, but life has only become more complicated. Everyone -- vampires, werewolves and humans -- wants the goblins on their side, because whoever has the goblins -- wins. 

Queen Victoria wants her head, Alpha wolf Vex wants her heart, and she still doesn't know the identity of the person who wanted her blood. What she does know is that a project from one of the 'secret' aristocrat labs has gotten free and she's the only one who can stop the perfect killing machine -- a sixteen year-old girl. With human zealots intent on ridding the world of anyone with plagued blood and supernatural politics taking Britain to the verge of civil war, Xandra's finding out that being queen isn't all it's cracked up to be, and if she doesn't do something fast, hers will be the shortest reign in history. 

The fantastic conclusion to the series that started with the spectacular undead steampunk debut, God Save the Queen and The Queen is Dead.

Review: I absolutely love this series, and when I saw the final book on the shelf at the library, I couldn't believe it was already released and that I hadn't read it yet. Needless to say, I grabbed the copy and read it as soon as I could. I couldn't wait to see what happened to Xandra and how this series was going to end now that she's the goblin queen and was betrayed by her most trusted friend. 

Ever since Xandra became goblin queen, things in England have only become more complicated. With the different races aligning against each other, Xandra has to decide exactly who she can trust and who's behind the secret labs that have been torturing her family and friends in order to find the perfect mixture to make the ideal race to rule all. Along with deciding who exactly she can trust, Xandra has to worry about Queen Victoria wanting her dead and her boyfriend Vex, who just so happens to be the alpha Were, wanting her heart. Oh, not to mention she has an entire race of feral goblins to rule. A girl can only handle so much…

Oh, how I love this series. You can't get more awesome than a paranormal, historical steampunk that involves Vampires, Goblins, AND Werewolves. I love how everything is so political and Xandra has to deal with being the Queen of the goblins while Queen Victoria is still Queen of England (and also a vampire…). There are so many elements to this story that make it so interesting and impossible to put down. 

Not only is the world fantastic, but the storyline as well. Xandra is involved in a real fight against people who want her race dead, and there are a ton of fight scenes that keep you on the edge of your toes. Also, the added romance between Xandra and Vex makes me one happy girl. You know how I am about my romance! But it's subtle enough that it doesn't completely overrun the story. Added to the romance and the action is also a little mystery regarding who exactly is behind the secret labs and attacks. Who can you trust? Who's really the bad guys? You don't know!

Overall, this was a fantastic ending to a fantastic series. I don't read enough steampunk, and reading this one reiterates how amazing this genre is. If any of her future books are like this one, I can't wait to see what else Kate Locke can come up with. If you're a fan of this series, you absolutely have to pick up this final novel. And if you haven't read this series, you better start now! You're missing out on a phenomenal story that takes steampunk to a whole new level.