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104 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 21, 2018
“Queens are fearless. Strong. Protective. They wield their magic to protect their people. Queens take what they want. What they need. They don’t…” ... “They aren’t weak. They aren’t afraid. They don’t need to be hurt, even with love. They certainly don’t submit. Ever.”
“Who says these lies?”
��Me.” ... “I say these lies. To myself.” - Mayte Zaniyah & Tezcatlipoca
I read this as part of the Realms and Rebels reverse harem anthology. I read it without ever having read any of the Their Vampire Queen series (first book Queen Takes Knights). There is an awful lot of complicated lore in this world, it does the best it can to explain the lore in as succinct a way as possible, it is understandable but sometimes I got a little lost.
There is a lot of focus on emotional intimacy in Queen Takes Jaguars but the focus in on protagonist Mayte's relationship with her Alpha Eztli. He is also a narrator. There is a brilliant scene in a hotel room with Mayte and all five members of her harem (Eztli, Maxtla, Luis and Diego) what is alternately hot as hell and devastating. Mayte is wonderful, she in some ways is all about duty, she needs an heir and she is risking her everything for it, her mates, her heart. Her men are charming. Mayte has a mysterious dream woman who is intriguing, series fans may who that is but I do not.
Mayte is a queen her monologue and talk of being a queen, the role she has to play, are just as relevant to being a woman. The book is so sex positive. I love the confidence and the owning of womanhood. This is a must-read for series fans but I would suggest it for anyone looking for anyone looking for someone to read who likes reverse harem. It is a pleasant read.
My reading experience in a gif:
"Everything was either trying to grow taller to find the sun above the canopy-or adjusting to life below the trees in near darkness."
“I’m a queen,” I whispered, my throat shredding as if I’d swallowed sharp shards of obsidian. “Queens are fearless. Strong. Protective. They wield their magic to protect their people. Queens take what they want. What they need. They don’t…” I swallowed, wincing at the sour, bitter taste of fear on my tongue. “They aren’t weak. They aren’t afraid. They don’t need to be hurt, even with love. They certainly don’t submit. Ever.”
“Who says these lies?” Tezcatlipoca whispered, dragging his canines back and forth over the bumps of my spine.
“Me.” My teeth chattered, and I clutched the mirror so hard my fingers ached. “I say these lies. To myself.”
“Use this truth, queen, and take your jaguar god. If you dare.”
“If I must call you my little queen, and he is your alpha, then you must call me your heart.”
Tears burned my eyes. He stated his intentions so clearly. I could keep Eztli. He would always be my alpha. Tepeyollotl would bend to my wishes, even as he gave me the strength and control I had secretly desired. And, of course, he would give me the child I so desperately needed to continue the Zaniyah line.
All I had to do was love him, too.