Left Unread Books | Queen and Conqueror (The Queens Red...

Queen and Conqueror (The Queens Red Guard)

Isabelle Olmo

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How does one conquer a kingdom without spilling blood? You offer your hand in marriage to the king who killed your husband.

Almira was raised by a calculating father who forged her in political cunning. Recently widowed, she boldly offers her hand in marriage to the king who defeated and killed her husband. She’s determined to establish alliances that would stabilize the land. They call King Alton the brother-killer, the spare heir who killed his brother for lust of throne. Almira is not intimidated by his reputation; she will meet him as an equal and if she cannot conquer him, she will certainly conquer his people.

His one request upon agreeing to marry her is that she must have dinner with him every night. A small request that erupts a battle of wits as the two try to outmaneuver one another and battle for the kingdom. Her father’s house falls into chaos when the heir runs away and demands to be Almira’s guard. Her councils are littered with political enemies and despite her marriage the kingdom is at the verge of war.

With so much doubt and uncertainty wearing a crown is more complicated than Almira ever anticipated. The only aspect of her life that remains steady is her Queen’s Red Guard, a group of warrior women who have one purpose: to protect the Queen at all costs. Even from her husband. Even from herself.

“Men will never be ready for women like us and it is not our job to ready them.”

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Posts about this title from Left Unread Books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Mar 24 2025

Authors: It is Pitchfest time! Bring me your books!

There is another Pitchfest quickly approaching and I want to make sure you have all of the information you need to participate! So authors, check this out for a list of the type of manuscripts I am looking for! And good luck everyone!!!

24 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Nov 30 2024

The Secret Power of Literature... and spoiler alert, it's not escapism.

Escapism is lovely, but that is not what reading does for me. So I thought I would share a little bit about one of the biggest things I get out of reading.

***Trigger warnings: grief, slavery, trauma, parentlessness, broken family, racism***

20 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Aug 23 2024

30 Minutes Until we meet Isabelle Olmo

Isabelle Olmo is the author of the Queen's Red Guard series, which includes Queen and Conqueror, Lady of Istok and Captain of the Rebels. They are romantacy, but heavy on the fantasy. They follow a group of incredible women navigating politically tough terrain and fighting for a divided kingdom, each book following a different member of the group. Come join us tonight as we talk about the books, Isabelle's writing process, and whatever else y'all want to discuss!

3 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Aug 22 2024

Tomorrow, we are meeting with Isabelle Olmo, the author of the Queen's Red Guard Series. The series starts with Queen and Conquerer, which follows Almira after her husband is killed in battle while rebelling against the King. And to save her kingdom and bring peace to the realm, she gives herself to the very King who had slain her husband. The series then continues with Lady of Istok, which follows Almira's niece as she has to travel back home to Istok after the death of her father to take her place on the regions high seat...only to find out that there are forces working against her and trying to keep her from her birthright. This series is beyond incredible and continues with her third book, Captain of the Rebels, which I have not read yet...but have sitting beside me, ready to dive into!\ \ Isabelle is an AMAZING writer and an even more amazing person and I can't wait to introduce you to her!\ \ And next Friday, we will be discussing this months Bookclub book, Never Whistle at Night, which is an indigenous dark fiction anthology. It is spooky, scary, intense and EVERYTHING i needed it to be. We will be joined by the anthology's editor, Shane Hawk. I have also invited some of the other contributing authors and hopefully one or two will join us!\ \ ZOOM INFO\ \ Isabelle Olmo: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86570033646?pwd=1ThqGqVayD08NzsOzoWO6CX4XIajmU.1\ \ Shane Hawk: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81685907028?pwd=OlxshseyRj3g2B4i5zDQzaGXTmAJob.1\ \ Hope to see you there!!!!

Author Events!!!

Hi, everyone! We have two virtual events coming up and I wanted to give you the zoom info! The first one is TOMORROW, August 23rd, with Fantasy author Isabelle Olmo. And the second is next Friday, August 30th, which is our normal Bookclub meeting...but THIS month, I have invited author Shane Hawk (editor of Never Whistle at Night) to come join us! There MAY be another author or two as well...we'll see. I'm working on it! Click below for the zoom info for both events!

4 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Aug 8 2024

Virtual Event: Meet author Isabelle Olmo

Isabelle Olmo is the author of the incredibly successful Queen's Red Guard series and is unbelievably knowledgeable on how to navigate self-publishing and bookish spaces like BookTok and Bookstagram. If you have read her work, have questions about her writing or publishing process, or just want to come spend time together, mark your calendars for this Friday at 6:30 cst! Zoom info down below!

3 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Jun 26 2024

Read this instead of ACOTAR

If you're here, you are probably already aware of the reasons I don't like Sarah J Maas or A Court of Thrones and Roses (if not, read below), so here are two series' that I think will scratch the same itch...but you know...better. | Also, here are the other places you can engage with me: tiktok.com/@michael.laborn, www.instagram.com/michaellaborn/, www.threads.net/@michaellaborn & https://discord.gg/zejmcM5m

7 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Jun 24 2024

When you think about the best fantasy/sci-fi you have ever read, I can almost guarantee you that one of the things they all have in common is that they introduced you to characters who refused to compromise their voice. And that doesn't just go for feel-good stories or books that work to highlight systemic issues. It's also true for the stories that introduced you to your favorite villains!\ \ Think about characters like Almira (Queen and Conquerer), Rin (Poppy War Trilogy), Anequs (To Shape A Dragon's Breath) or Kiera (The Halfling Saga). One of the most endearing things about those stories is that they gave us main characters who are so firmly rooted in their own will that we almost lose sight of the fact that there is an author pulling their strings. And that is not to say that a character must have a fully fleshed out sense of self in order to hold this kind of impact. Nova (The Name Bearer) spends the first two books of this Quala having to wrestle with the fact that she has been denied any sense of identity. But that doesn't stop her from holding the kind of determination and resolve that leave us, the readers, wondering if Natalia Hernandez had any say in who Nova became.\ \ When I am reading a book, and preparing to talk about it publically, I always ask myself how consistently the character's speak for themselves. Do they make their own decisions or are they constantly compromising for the sake of the story arc? Do they stick to their guns, even when the readers will struggle with their choices (Such as the iconic moment where Ikenna kills...ok fine, i won't spoil it. But go read Blood Gifts Duology!!!)? Do their mistakes and victories make sense for who they have shown themselves to be? Do they push back when people challenge them?\ \ I don't need characters to be fully fleshed out from the beginning, but I do need them to always be consistent with however much of their identity they have come to terms with at any point in the story.\ \ Let me know some stories that do this for you!!!\ \ \ \

Writing Tip: Never Betray Your Character's Voice

Writers, as a reviewer, I can tell you. that nothing draws me into a story faster than a main character who has owned their own voice. Read more about that down below!

11 books

Posts about this book from across Bindery

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Mar 24 2025

Authors: It is Pitchfest time! Bring me your books!

24 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Nov 30 2024

The Secret Power of Literature... and spoiler alert, it's not escapism.

Escapism is lovely, but that is not what reading does for me. So I thought I would share a little bit about one of the biggest things I get out of reading.

***Trigger warnings: grief, slavery, trauma, parentlessness, broken family, racism***

20 books

Tattooed Bibliophiles\ \ Zee\ \ • Nov 13 2024

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This is the time to mention that sci-fi is a mixed genre, and a lot of stuff can go under that umbrella. While The Queens Red Guard series is stolidly fantasy, and could even be considered romantasy, I feel like the rich world building, complex politics, and diversity of characters is something most sci-fi readers would enjoy. This series has kept me up at night wondering who the author might kill off to further the plot...and I'm so into it. Call me a masochist but if an author isn't hurting me...I don't want it!

The Queens Red Guard

3 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Aug 23 2024

30 Minutes Until we meet Isabelle Olmo

3 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Aug 22 2024

Author Events!!!