Review: Queen of Coin and Whispers

Eighteen-year-old Lia has just ascended to the throne of Edar after the death of her corrupt uncle, and she is not sure who to trust. When she decides to look for a new spymaster, seventeen-year-old Xania Bayonn, an unlikely candidate, takes on the role. Against all the odds, and in spite of court intrigue and murderous plots, the two find themselves inexplicably drawn to one another.

Helen Corcoran’s debut YA novel offers an invigorating take on the fantasy genre, as the richly imagined world in which it is set offers almost no allusions to the existence of magic. As magic seemingly does not exist within the universe of the novel, its action, social hierarchy and power dynamics, though framed within a fantasy setting, can be examined through the lens of realism. In this way Corcoran’s novel offers a fascinating perspective on court intrigue and politics, as magic is so often used in fantasy novels to illustrate socio-political struggles and class divides.

As well as being an exploration of what defines a novel as ‘fantasy’, Queen of Coin and Whispers is, at its heart, an endearing representation of the boundless nature of love. It was wonderful to come across a novel in which same-sex relationships and marriage are openly accepted and seen as the norm.

The novel contains a plot full of colour and suspense as Lia and Xania’s awkward first encounter gradually builds into a tense yet wonderfully realised romance. The alternating narration from both of their viewpoints is extremely effective for building up the tension of the novel, particularly in the climax when the fate of Edar hangs in the balance.

Corcoran poses some truly thought-provoking questions with Queen of Coin and Whispers; what characteristics must a story have to fall under the banner of ‘fantasy’? And what would happen if a monarch were to fall in love with a subject of the same gender?

Queen of Coin and Whispers presents a high-stakes fantasy narrative that bursts with intricate and vivid world-building while also managing to maintain a whirlwind pace and well-written, highly realistic characters. Corcoran’s debut carries a deeply stimulating commentary on politics and human nature that will linger with the reader long after finishing the novel.

You can buy a copy of Queen of Coin and Whispers here:

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Thank you very much to the O’Brien Press for providing me with an advance review copy of this book.