Books › The Hive Queen
The Hive Queen
320 pages
A fast-paced, high-stakes adventure about the terrifying thrill of asking the right questions in a world built on lies.
What it feels like
Reading this installment feels like being swept into a thrilling, high-stakes conspiracy where curiosity is the ultimate weapon. The narrative moves at a propulsive clip, balancing the creeping dread of a totalitarian, mind-controlling regime with the warm, earnest humor of a deeply empathetic protagonist. You are anchored entirely in a hyperactive, questioning perspective, making the sprawling fantasy world feel intimate and immediate. The atmosphere is tense and conspiratorial, yet constantly lightened by the fierce loyalty of a growing found family. It is a deeply satisfying experience for readers who love expansive lore and fast-paced rebellion, offering a perfect blend of heart-pounding escapes, unraveling mysteries, and the quiet courage it takes to stand up to absolute power.
- Mood
- tense
- adventurous
- conspiratorial
- Tone
- earnest
- inquisitive
- suspenseful
- humorous
- Pace
- propulsive
- Themes
- questioning authority · resisting conformity · found family · the power of truth
- The writing
- Accessible and dialogue-heavy, the narrative is driven by a hyperactive, deeply empathetic internal monologue that keeps the pages turning.
- The arc
- The protagonist moves from a state of anxious, isolated curiosity to finding the courage to actively resist a terrifying regime alongside trusted friends.
- Who it's for
- Middle-grade fantasy readers who crave expansive world-building, high-stakes rebellion, and endearing, non-human protagonists.
Content notes
- mind control / loss of autonomy
- fantasy violence
- totalitarianism
- parental neglect
About the book
Growing up in the hives, cricket has always had 1,000,000 questions. Wiretree soap forbidden, even in art? Why do her parents seem to hate her? In the biggest, most dangerous and secret question of all: why is cricket immune to queen wasp"s powers? Whenever the queen takes control of all the hype wing, speaking through their mouths and seeing through their eyes, cricket has to hide, terrified of being discovered. Now she's hiding again, wanted for stealing the book of clear site along with her new silkwing friends, blue and swordtail, and the fierce leafwing sundew. The fugitives need answers, and fast, in order to prevent a leafwing attack. But cricket has more questions than ever. How can she stay hidden and discover the queen's deadliest secret? And if she does succeed - can a powerless dragonet really do anything to topple a regime and stop a war?
Description from Open Library.
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