Contest of Queens - (The Frean Chronicles) by Jordan H Bartlett (Hardcover)

About the Book

Short Summary: Jacs, an inventor's apprentice from the Lower Realm, befriends Connor of the Upper Realm. The strength of their bond overcomes realm-related prejudice. But when the old feud in the Queendom of Frea reignites, Jacs must defy gravity and compete in the Contest of Queens to prove that a Queendom is strongest when united.

Book Synopsis

A 2022 IPPY Award Silver Medal Winner

In a Queendom divided, can one girl unite the realms?

Jacs, an inventor's apprentice from the Lower Realm, has only ever dreamed of what the land among the clouds holds. That is until she finds a letter from Connor, an Upperite boy hoping to learn more about the land below. Little does Jacs know, Connor is actually Prince Cornelius of the Queendom of Frea. With wooden boats and hot air balloons, the two begin a secret correspondence. But their friendship is divided by a heavily-guarded bridge and an inescapable prejudice.

The strength of their bond was thought to transcend distance and time, but when the royal family visits the Lower Realm, the Queendom's feud is reignited.

To save her people, Jacs must infiltrate the Upper Realm and earn her place to compete in the Contest of Queens. In a story about friendship, love, bravery, and defying gravity, Jacs will strive to prove that a Queendom is strongest when united.

Review Quotes

"This tale is a thought-provoking fantasy novel, a story you can fall into and not come for air for hours." --YA Books Central

"Atmospheric and filled with vivid descriptions, this book is a powerful feminist take on creating a matriarchal world." --The Fictional Journal

"My 2022 reading started off with a bang! Contest of Queens was a lovely read." --The Bookish Coven

"This book is a must read . . . playful and imaginative." --Cailyn Heintzelman, Morton Grove Public Library

About the Author

Jordan H. Bartlett is an award-winning, New Zealand-born Canadian author with a love for children's literature and female empowerment. She grew up reading books about boys for boys and found it hard to find a strong heroine she could relate to. Bartlett wrote the Frean Chronicles to give young readers that character she so longed for in a world where gender norms are reversed. Bartlett currently resides in Banff, Alberta where she works as a speech language pathologist and is a certified yoga instructor.