A heroine like no other, ancient magic unleashed, a fated epic battle–the first book in an enchanting YA fantasy duology inspired by Vietnamese lore, weaving magic, sisterhood, and self-discovery.
Jolie Lam, a high school sophomore in San Jose, is known for two her bizarre freakout at last year’s swim meet and her fortuneteller grandfather with visions of dragons and earthquakes. Friendless and ostracized, Jolie’s life takes a dramatic turn for the better when she saves the school’s it-girl, Huong Pham, during a haunting vision of her own. Taken under Huong’s wing, Jolie’s world transforms, in more ways than one.
As Jolie and Huong’s bond deepens, they unlock long lost telepathic abilities, fluency in Vietnamese, and eerie premonitions. This leads them to a shocking they are the reincarnates of legendary queens and goddesses, the Trung Sisters. While a thrilling discovery, it also sets them on a perilous journey.
The girls must navigate dreams and portals to piece together their past lives and reclaim their immortal elements before their ancient enemies strike again. But all is not what it seems, and Jolie must determine friend from foe, truth from lie, and ultimately right from wrong in this battle for all she loves and the fate of the world.
My thoughts:
The Lost Queen possessed immense potential and, while it delivered on certain fronts, it ultimately fell short in many others. I genuinely wanted to love this book, but found myself confused by significant portions of the narrative.
Aimee Phan’s gorgeous writing is the novel’s primary saving grace. Her prose, while accessible and at times straightforward, is absolutely lovely. Phan paints vivid pictures of both modern-day San Jose and historical Vietnam, creating a strong sense of place.
The incorporation of Vietnamese mythology was fascinating but, ultimately, difficult to follow. I admit to having no prior knowledge of Vietnamese folklore or history, which likely contributed to my confusion. Readers already familiar with the legend of the Trung Sisters might find it easier to navigate. The story’s pacing also felt uneven. There was considerable buildup, only for the climactic battle at the end to feel rushed and anticlimactic.
I was also frequently confused by the interplay between the flashbacks and the stories from Jolie’s mythology book. At times, I couldn’t distinguish what was meant to be myth versus an actual flashback from her past life.
Regarding the characters, my feelings are mixed. I both liked and disliked Jolie. She was relatable in some aspects, such as her family dynamics and the bullying she endured from classmates and former friends. However, her meekness was often frustrating. She allowed others to use her and walk all over her, making me desperately wish she would stand up for herself. While she did experience some growth, it felt insufficient and failed to fully satisfy. The supporting characters were largely one-dimensional, with many of them—particularly the male characters—blending together and lacking distinction. There were no real standouts, and most were entirely forgettable.
The magical system was another significant point of confusion. Most of the magical elements—the different powers, the distribution and sharing of these elements, the portals—were baffling and never clearly explained. This book genuinely made me feel unintelligent at times, as I struggled persistently to comprehend these core concepts.
Overall, The Lost Queen wasn’t for me. I appreciate its ambitious premise and valued learning about the Trung Sisters, but the numerous confusing elements prevented me from fully enjoying it. The novel presents a fascinating and beautifully written exploration of this Vietnamese legend, but a lack of character development and puzzling magical mechanics hampered its execution. While I enjoyed parts of it, I couldn’t fully immerse myself in the story and do not foresee continuing with the second book in this duology.