THE LOST QUEEN, by Aimee Phan, G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, May 6, 2025, Hardcover, $19.99 (young adult)
A girl discovers hidden powers and a past tracing back centuries in The Lost Queen, the first book in a new YA fantasy duology by Aimee Phan.
Jolie Lam, a high school sophomore in San Jose, is known for two things: her bizarre freakout at last year’s swim meet and her fortuneteller grandfather with visions of dragons and earthquakes. Friendless and ostracized, Jolie’s life takes a dramatic turn for the better when she saves the school’s it-girl, Huong Pham, during a haunting vision of her own. Taken under Huong’s wing, Jolie’s world transforms, in more ways than one.
As Jolie and Huong’s bond deepens, they unlock long lost powers: telepathic abilities, fluency in Vietnamese, and eerie premonitions. This leads them to a shocking revelation: they have ties to legendary queens and goddesses of ancient Vietnam. While a thrilling discovery, it also sets them on a perilous journey.
The girls must navigate dreams and portals to piece together their past lives and reclaim their immortal elements before their ancient enemies strike again. But all is not what it seems, and Jolie must determine friend from foe, truth from lie, and ultimately right from wrong in this battle for all she loves and the fate of the world. —Synopsis provided by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Inspired by the Vietnamese legend of the Trung Sisters, warrior queens who rebelled against the Chinese in AD 40, The Lost Queen is an epic fantasy that blends the past and present.
The story follows Jolie, whose sophomore year could hardly get worse. Her best friends have shunned her and her grandfather is ailing. All Jolie wants to do is hide. Then Huong enters the picture. Suddenly, Jolie is popular. And Huong makes her feel seen.
Jolie is a character that faces a lot of growth throughout The Lost Queen. She literally learns who she was and decides who she wants to be. It’s an incredible journey of self-discovery. Next to her, all the other characters, except morally grey Huong, feel fairly one note.
The Lost Queen isn’t necessarily a page turner, but the book fairly sings when author Aimee Phan transports readers through time and place. That’s really where the descriptive magic takes place. Overall, it’s a compelling story that keeps you reading to the end. And the story feels complete, so it will be interesting to see where Phan takes readers in the sequel.
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