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Review of Agatha the Beloved Queen

Posted: 22 Oct 2023, 17:18
by Omneya Shakeep
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Agatha the Beloved Queen" by Fred Pilcher.]
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5 out of 5 stars
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In the small birthing room, when Queen Julia was holding her newborn daughter, her daughter's fairy godmother appeared before her to grant Agatha three precious gifts: wisdom, compassion, and perception of character. The fairy godmother promises Queen Julia an extraordinary future for her daughter, Agatha, if she nurtures and teaches Agatha to be a good monarch. She foresees the most prosperous and peaceful time in the land of Xana under Agatha's reign.

Agatha grows up to be the most beautiful young lady in her kingdom, and her soul matches her outer appearance. Her compassion, wisdom, humbleness, and sense of justice earn her a place in the hearts of the commoners of her land. However, these qualities open a great chasm between her and the aristocrats. They see her mingling with the commoners and her disdain for extravagances as non-royal qualities, and the constant support she provides for the commoners against the aristocrats only makes things worse.

Even at a young age, Agatha recognizes the injustice in her mother's regime and her bias towards the aristocrats; despite her efforts to raise the welfare of the people, her mother's decisions restrict her, which only makes her determined to change this once she is in the position of power. She vows to make all the people of Xana share its wealth, regardless of their status. But when darkness, hunger, and death plague her kingdom with the arrival of the evil wizard, Magi, she finds it hard to fulfill her promise. Nonetheless, she holds her ground for her people, gives them hope when they see none, and supports them through the dark times under the sorcerer Magi's control.

Agatha the Beloved Queen by Fred Pilcher is a fantasy-romantic novel with a strong feminine lead character. The events in this novel take place a few hundred years ago. The author skillfully describes the carriages, sword battles, archery-trained fighters, markets, simple houses, and grand castles in this era. I enjoyed the narrative writing style he uses in this novel. He introduces the events as an old legend narrated from modern people's points of view, which gives it a historical and mystical theme that I found unique.

Agatha's character was admirable; her wisdom, compassion, intellect, morals, and ambition made her a perfect queen. Furthermore, I admired her humility in admitting to her subordinates that the mistake they made was her fault for issuing an inaccurate command. There are also a few admirable lessons subtly and expertly woven within the plot. One that resonated with me more than any other: "To have a true friend, you must first of all be a true friend." Agatha was more of a mother, educating and raising her children with the correct ethics to live their lives by.

I enjoyed reading about the other influential women, such as Anya, Sylvia, and Charlotta. Their roles were as essential as the Queen's to the prosperity of their kingdom. They demonstrated how motivated women can achieve any position they desire, even without the help of a fairy godmother. On the other hand, I would have liked for Prince Olaf to have a more substantial rule, at least in consulting Queen Agatha on war strategies. I believe this professionally edited and well-written novel deserves 5 out of 5 stars, as I didn't find anything to dislike while reading it.

I recommend Agatha the Beloved Queen to fiction and romance fans. However, I believe it is more appropriate for adults due to the mature content included.

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Agatha the Beloved Queen
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Re: Review of Agatha the Beloved Queen

Posted: 24 Oct 2023, 03:43
by kwamemeloy
I would buy this book after reading your insightful commentary. Thanks.

Re: Review of Agatha the Beloved Queen

Posted: 24 Oct 2023, 05:47
by Chuks Ogechukwu Bianca
Agatha sounds like quite the interesting lead character. I'll definitely check the book out if I ever got the chance. Congrats on a beautiful review

Re: Review of Agatha the Beloved Queen

Posted: 24 Oct 2023, 17:01
by Omneya Shakeep
kwamemeloy wrote: 24 Oct 2023, 03:43 I would buy this book after reading your insightful commentary. Thanks.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.

Re: Review of Agatha the Beloved Queen

Posted: 24 Oct 2023, 17:03
by Omneya Shakeep
Chuks Ogechukwu Bianca wrote: 24 Oct 2023, 05:47 Agatha sounds like quite the interesting lead character. I'll definitely check the book out if I ever got the chance. Congrats on a beautiful review
Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to leave a comment. I hope you get the chance to read it soon.

Re: Review of Agatha the Beloved Queen

Posted: 25 Oct 2023, 14:33
by Catherine Radford
Whenever I see an Agatha in fiction I always wonder if the author had Agatha Christie in mind when writing as she has had such a huge influence on many people over the years.

Re: Review of Agatha the Beloved Queen

Posted: 27 Oct 2023, 11:34
by Bettny Andrade
I like the theme of the book, and the plot you describe. However, it sounds like a very long book. I will keep it in mind for a future reading, thanks for the review.

Re: Review of Agatha the Beloved Queen

Posted: 27 Oct 2023, 15:08
by Omneya Shakeep
Catherine Radford wrote: 25 Oct 2023, 14:33 Whenever I see an Agatha in fiction I always wonder if the author had Agatha Christie in mind when writing as she has had such a huge influence on many people over the years.
I don't think the author had Agatha Christie in mind while writing this book. I think he was visualizing his version of what the perfect queen should be like. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.

Re: Review of Agatha the Beloved Queen

Posted: 27 Oct 2023, 15:11
by Omneya Shakeep
Bettny Andrade wrote: 27 Oct 2023, 11:34 I like the theme of the book, and the plot you describe. However, it sounds like a very long book. I will keep it in mind for a future reading, thanks for the review.
It was a nice book to read, and it wasn't long at all—only three hundred and some pages. I hope you give it a try. 

Re: Review of Agatha the Beloved Queen

Posted: 29 Oct 2023, 09:31
by Sarah Zain
This is a story I would love to read. It has all the elements that could attract me to a book, a strong and wise heroine, a little romance and imagination. I loved your review very much. It was a beautiful, well-arranged that made me put the book on my list. Amazing as usual Omneya

Re: Review of Agatha the Beloved Queen

Posted: 29 Oct 2023, 10:12
by Omneya Shakeep
Sarah Zain wrote: 29 Oct 2023, 09:31 This is a story I would love to read. It has all the elements that could attract me to a book, a strong and wise heroine, a little romance and imagination. I loved your review very much. It was a beautiful, well-arranged that made me put the book on my list. Amazing as usual Omneya
It was a very enjoyable book. I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts about it. Thanks for your kind and uplifting words, Sarah.

Re: Review of Agatha the Beloved Queen

Posted: 31 Oct 2023, 21:14
by Clare Jose
This book looks like something I would enjoy reading. Just from reading the review, I feel like I can say Agatha is a wonderful queen. Your review was beautifully written and has made me excited to read the book. Thank you!

Re: Review of Agatha the Beloved Queen

Posted: 04 Nov 2023, 16:55
by Catalina Isabel
Queen Agatha seems like a perfect Queen and role model to many women. The story sounds intriguing and well-balanced. You have done a wonderful job summarizing and analyzing this novel, Omneya. Well done! 😊

Re: Review of Agatha the Beloved Queen

Posted: 05 Nov 2024, 06:52
by Leen282
No matter how strong the lead character is, it must still be a very difficult task to fight against the flaws of her mother's reign. I find it admirable Agatha keeps her promise to the people, even in challenging times of hunger, darkness and plague. I mostly enjoy the element of sharing wealth with everyone, independent of status.

Re: Review of Agatha the Beloved Queen

Posted: 05 Nov 2024, 06:56
by ivy mia
Fred Pilcher's Agatha the Beloved Queen is a captivating historical fantasy novel that follows the life of Princess Agatha, a young woman destined for greatness. Blessed with wisdom, compassion, and a keen understanding of people, Agatha dreams of a world where all are treated with fairness and respect.

As she grows, Agatha witnesses the stark inequality between the nobility and the common people. She challenges the status quo, advocating for the rights of the downtrodden. However, her noble intentions often clash with the rigid social structures of her time.

When a powerful sorcerer threatens the kingdom of Xana, Agatha is forced to confront darkness and lead her people through a perilous time. Her courage, resilience, and unwavering belief in justice allow her to overcome adversity and emerge as a true leader.

The novel delves into themes of love, loss, and the power of the human spirit. It celebrates the importance of empathy, compassion, and the pursuit of a just society.