«This was a love story depicting an insanely unhealthy relationship... Amberly is weak, spineless, and in love with someone who is clearly emotionally unstable.» The StoryGraph
Readers on The StoryGraph and other forums highlighted the contrast between Amberly's kindness and the challenging royal environment:
: Fans enjoyed returning to the world of Illéa and seeing another Selection process from a different point of view. La Reina Kiera Cass epub
: Many readers appreciated learning the backstory of King Clarkson and Queen Amberly, which helps explain the king's harsh demeanor and the queen's unwavering devotion in the main series.
“It was sweetly written... and it's interesting to see how much Amberly's kind disposition saved the future royal family.” The StoryGraph What happens next? A Review of Queen by Kiera Cass «This was a love story depicting an insanely
Reviewers generally view the book as an insightful "bite-sized" addition for established fans, though it receives mixed feedback regarding its portrayal of the central relationship.
( The Queen ) is a digital-original prequel novella in Kiera Cass’s bestselling Selection series. It is told from the perspective of Queen Amberly , the mother of Prince Maxon, and chronicles her own Selection process and how she met the stoic Prince Clarkson. Review Summary “It was sweetly written
: A common criticism among some reviewers is the depiction of Amberly and Clarkson's relationship, which some describe as unhealthy or featuring an "overly submissive" protagonist and an "emotionally unstable" love interest.