Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

A Tale of Castes and Classism in Nameless Queen

Nameless Queen is the debut novel of Rebecca McLaughlin, and it is a tale of magic and politics. In a world where magic exists – but isn’t accessible by all, the differences in classes and castes have been made all the worse.

The Nameless is precisely that. They are people with no true names. They cannot use magic. Nor can magic affect them. They are treated as dirt or worse. So imagine the city’s surprise when a Nameless woke up one day with the royal crown tattooed on her skin. The crown signified that she was to be the next queen.

This novel takes a different look at magic and uses it to converse with the reader about morality, class, and status. It’s as fascinating as it is magical. And it is well worth the read. Also worth noting is that this book has been favorably compared to other series like Red Queen and Everless (having read them, I can understand the comparison).

Writing

Rebecca McLaughlin’s debut novel was an ambitious one. She chose to take magic and politics and merge them into a story full of so much heart and emotion. Nameless Queen was, in many ways, an empowering tale.

The world created here is fascinating – even if it is dark and foreboding. This is not a world in which you’d want to be Nameless. But still, it’s an intriguing world. And one that I hope McLaughlin’s future novels take more time to explore.

Coin’s character (the Nameless who became Queen) was an interesting balance. She was quick-witted, determined, and just a little bit sassy. But she was also extremely passionate and caring while being afraid to let anyone get too close to her. Reading her story was an interesting experience, as she simultaneously pulled the readers closer, even as she tried to push us away.

The sheer amount of emotion that McLaughlin could weave into this novel was borderline overwhelming at times. That made for a very powerful – and moving read. Even as Coin pushed us away, it was impossible not to feel for her and her people. That talent right there is something that’s going to take McLaughlin far in her career.

Development

Nameless Queen was a heavily emotional novel, with Coin’s reactions and planning carrying us from one series of events to the next. She was the driving force behind this novel, even as she responded to those around her.

This was a fast-paced read, thanks to Coin’s very nature. She’s not the type to stay still, especially when the one she loves is in danger. Honestly, I wouldn’t have complained had the pace been slowed a little bit – giving us more time to get to know (and care for) the secondary characters.

On the whole, Nameless Queen was a quick and interesting read. The politics were harrowing, but even so, I don’t think any of us would have complained about more insight into that side of the world. There’s just something so compelling about this combination.

Conclusion

Nameless Queen was a powerfully emotionally and compelling read. Combining classism and magic into one story is not new, but McLaughlin made her spin out of it. It’s a world I would gladly revisit, given even half the chance.

This review was originally written for Word of the Nerd, but has been ported over to Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks now that the site has shut down.

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