Review: Queen Of Volts | Amanda Foody (ARC)

This review is spoiler free.

“The City of Sin was a game, and the only way to win was to stack the cards in your favour.”

Series: The Shadow Game
Published: 2020, by HQ Young Adult.
Pages: 598
Format: eBook/ARC from Netgalley.
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Fiction, Mystery, LGBT
Contains: Death, Murder, Violence, Guns, Blood/Gore, Strong Language, Sexual Content, Anger

I received a copy of this book from HQ Young Adult through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

‘Queen Of Volts’ is the final book in The Shadow Game trilogy, returning to the City of Sin one last time, where the final game is about to begin. Days after a corrupt election and brutal street war, twenty-two of the most notorious people in New Reynes are elected to partake in one final game. Enne Scordata and Levi Glaisyer are desperate for forge alliances and bargain for their safety, but while Levi offers false smiles, Enne faces a world where her true identity has been revealed.

I knew from the moment I requested this title on Netgalley that I was going to adore the contents within, having been a huge fan of The Shadow Game series since it’s first novel: Ace of Shades. However, it was bittersweet excitement, knowing that this title was the last in the series, but nevertheless, I absolutely adored this book from start to finish.

Enne was a badass from the first chapter, highlighting her strength and resilience throughout the story. However, there is an element of realism to her character, having weaknesses and faults that the other characters encounter. She’s a ruthless young lady, but she can also be stubborn and selfish as the plot develops. Nevertheless, she’s still a delight to read about.
Levi continues to impress within this final instalment, his own weaknesses shining through the pages but still providing strength when his comrades needed it. He put his life on the line for those around him, becoming the legend he’s always wanted to be and it’s always been a joy for me to read those chapters written in Levi’s point of view; It’s incredibly easy to route for him.
However, one of my favourite characters in this instalment was Harvey, who previously I hadn’t considered being interested about. He shows his own weaknesses and limitations in this novel, revealing a softer/squidgy side to him, and that made him entirely human. It was brilliant to see this side to him, finding myself routing for him was something I never expected but I adored it. It truly made the novel all that more special.

The writing itself is notoriously Foody in this novel, being full of lengthy details that brought the City of Sin to life and got its engines running. Everything felt real; the characters, the locations, the emotions. The stakes were high and the use of language placed you right in the fray.

Overall, I adored this novel. The characters are some I hold very dear to my heart and it’s been a joy to discover more about them in this final instalment. If I could have it my way, this series would never end.

5/5