The Bloodless Queen

by Joshua Phillip Johnson

Part ecological Orpheus and Eurydice myth and part gothic thriller, discover this atmospheric near-future sci-fi novel about fae mysteries deep within strange nature preserves

Perfect for readers of Jeff VanderMeer, Chuck Wendig, and Sunyi Dean • “Richly imagined and beautifully written, with a highly original and very creepy magic system.” —R. F. Kuang (on Johnson's The Forever Sea)

On the autumnal equinox of 1987, after fencing off half of the Earth’s land for huge nature reserves called Harbors, the leaders of the world called on their peoples to celebrate. Then began the horror and the magic.

Everyone who died that day—all 132,329 of them—instead of going cold and still, turned odd and fae. They became mischievous and murderous, before disappearing into their nearest Harbor, never seen again. And each year after that on the autumnal equinox, the same terrible transformations would occur: the wretched dead not dying, but instead riddling and whispering of a faerie queen—bloodless and powerful—while fleeing into the wild confines of the Harbors.

In the present day, Evangeline and Calidore are working as fencers, government-employed protectors whose magical powers come from mysterious tattoos of prime numbers. When they aren’t fixing the fences of the Midwest Harbor that separates the human world from Faerie or patrolling on the equinox, they are parents of an almost-seven-year-old daughter named Winnie.

But as the new year’s autumnal equinox approaches, Evangeline and Calidore find themselves thrust into a vast conspiracy that stretches across governments, religions, and fencers worldwide. As they race to untangle this web of power and intrigue, they will need to confront the questions that have haunted the world since the fences were built:

What lies at the heart of the Harbors? Who waits there?

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror, Fiction, Adult, Dystopia, Gothic

464 pages, Hardcover

First published July 8, 2025

Reviews

[Chewable Orb · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bloodless Queen by Joshua Phillip Johnson

What is a Fae? As the Wikipedia page for Mythos and Legends states, a Fae, often mistakenly known as a fairy (a species apart from the Fae), is an entity that belongs to the realm of mythical beings in European folklore. Joshua Phillip Johnson provides a haunting take on the darker side of what a Fae can be. Dripping with horrific goodness, the world has entered a new era.

The Equinox provides a vessel upon which a vortex of humanity and death combine. On this singular day, those who perish are fortunate enough to be chosen by the queen and rise again as a Fae, to the glory of a rising religious movement followed by the Sylvans. Merciless in their destruction, the queen’s disciples ravage innocent civilians with no apparent weakness.

This issue does have a solution, though it is more of a band-aid solution. A group of individuals awakens to new abilities. Inscribed upon the lucky recipient's skin are mysterious prime numbers, providing the source of strength. Our story looks in depth at Calidore and Evangeline, two such Fencers, as they are known, whose special abilities make them more immune to the dangerous creatures. Their lifelong job, if it can be called that, is to protect the boundaries around the evil spirits they are herding. However, as the story unfolds, tiny cracks within the government agencies start to show, revealing treacherous acts in play.

Blanketed by a small flurry of ash, I trudged on. Moving ever so slowly, methodically, I trudged to catch a glimpse of the dark, heinous beings. Obscured by their shield, a fence, I felt empathy and sadness. These weren’t monsters; well, of course, they were, but these people whose untimely deaths fell on the wrong day. Slowly, backing away in contemplation, a wry smile appeared. Joshua Phillip Johnson sparks emotional outbursts within my beating heart. Each pumping of the iron-red liquid sped up into anticipation. This novel conjures a devilishly clever use of horror elements against a backdrop of family drama. Superheroes, ghoulies, and government corruption are nothing new. How do we meld these together and make it work? Interestingly, I felt Johnson was successful. The pacing was taut, and the tender moments helped give the reader multiple perspectives, resulting in a deeper connection to the main characters. Mysterious, clever, and atmospheric could be wonderful descriptions of this book.

Let us discuss the conclusion and my one point of contention. Not what I had anticipated. Perhaps I got overzealous in my preparation to be dazzled, and my own buildup had reached its inner crescendo. I was in the tree of darkness, and yet…. The conclusion certainly had a legitimate reason as to the how and why, and yet maybe I wanted something darker, ala Stephen King. I must repeat this was my only setback in this book, and future devourers of the book might 100% enjoy the ending, but as for myself, I was entertained, but nothing hit the wow factor.

As the leaves fell, dark and crinkled, I walked back to my car along a desolate path. Relaxed, I felt a calm sense that things were under control. Our fencers had my back, and for that I am grateful. As usual, thoughts turned to the corrupt religious factions and agencies whose singular mission is to control the meek, ever-consuming. These systemic themes run rampant through fictional stories in modern times and fill me with sadness. Yet here we are. Choking back on emotional sentiment, I digress. It’s dark, it’s dreary… and worthy of your time. I am giving this 4 out of 5 stars! Recommended.

Many thanks to DAW for the ARC through NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.

[Books_the_Magical_Fruit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am become grief. Not since watching the documentary “Dear Zachary” years ago have I been this emotionally wrecked, nay, emotionally destroyed.

If I had to guess, the author has lost someone very, very close to him. I’ve never seen grief displayed so perfectly on pages. The characters are crafted so well that I grew to love them, and their losses became mine.

I wept throughout the last quarter of the book, and I outright sobbed for about ten minutes after finishing. The characters felt like my own family.

If you only read one book this month, or even year, read this one. It is utterly unique in a way that is difficult to explain, but essentially it mixes fantasy and science fiction in a manner that just WORKS. To be fair, the first part of the book is a slow burn, but it is giving you both backstory and important clues that you have to piece together to understand *why* the characters do what they do later on. The author even quotes from a book written by a minor character, and all of the footnotes can be found at the end. Everything is explained in even greater detail there.

You might be wondering how someone can craft a beautiful world where mathematicians, fae, religious sycophants and superheroes collide, and all I can say is:

READ THIS BOOK.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and DAW for the advance copy. I am writing this review entirely voluntarily.

[Denise Ruttan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure how I felt about this book at first because it wasn't clear from the synopsis that it's really a superhero story, and I am not a fan of superheroes, typically. For being supposedly eco-futurism it had very little environmentalism in it. I like DC but I usually find the MCU tedious. It had a slow start, and I found the worldbuilding confusing at first. But I am glad I gave it a chance because the story and especially the characters grew on me. I also found the worldbuilding fresh and inventive.

Cal and Evangeline are married fencers in the future on an alternate Earth in which humans turn into fae every equinox. Fencers guard the safety of human habitations from the radiation and waste in the fae world, a scheme designed by Reagan in the 80s, who became a cultist after reading a book. But his so-called environmentalism was misguided.

I found it refreshing how finally we do not have sparkly faeries like usual, but rather they are monstrous, murderous beings without any morality or reason. It was interesting to see the ethical dilemmas in which this plays out, as fencers and the family of the transformed humans wonder if any part of the human is left in there. There is even a church that has formed, the Sylvans, to worship the Faerie Queen and the fae, even though they ruthlessly slaughter 80,000 humans a year.

The fencers are basically superheroes, who one day get a prime number mysteriously tattooed on their body that confers upon them supernatural abilities to protect humanity from the fae.

The story dripped with dystopian dread and conspiracy, which I usually see from zombie tales and rarely faeries.

Cal and Evangeline have a six-year-old child, Winnie, and a Newfoundland named Tennyson; Newfoundlands as well have been given supernatural powers to protect. I loved the Newfoundland, and no dog deaths in this story thankfully. I loved the scenes of these three (and four counting the cute dog) as a loving family because I so rarely see healthy married couples represented in fiction. I loved the relationship they had as a couple and as a family, and how they supported each other as a family through their dangerous work. The family bonding scenes were heartwarming and also foreshadowing.

The gripping story kept me riveted as a conspiracy involving the government and the church is revealed. Ever since the pandemic I have been wary of dystopian fiction because it led me to believe that humans would act differently than they did in the face of global catastrophe. But this really felt like how humans would act if fae creatures took over the world.

I almost wish this was a series because I would read more of this world.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Renee Godding · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars, rounded up because I love Joshua Philip Johnsons creative approach to the fantasy genre and the unique worlds he crafts.

"The truth, made obvious every equinox, was that the fae were neither sages nor children, neither holy mother nor holy father. They were nothing human and every poetic metaphor and comparison that attempted to slot them into some stratum of human experience misunderstood the fae at grave risk."

What I loved:
In a landscape saturated with generic fantasy, I love how this author manages to take familiar concepts and turn them into the truly fantastical. His concepts and worlds are truly some of the coolest I’ve read recently: I still randomly think about his world where magical ships sail an ocean made of prairie grass (with an entirely different ecosystem on the ground level, completely hostile to the humans!), and it’s been 4 years since I’ve read that book!
The Bloodless Queen lives up to that same level of creativity. The world is vivid, the magic-system unique and the lore in-depth. It strikes the perfect balance between familiar and fantastical to transport you into its world, without overwhelming the reader.
I’ve seen people critique Johnson’s take on “fae”, saying these have nothing to do with the fae from our worlds folklore, and he should’ve picked a different name for his creatures. I highly disagree and actually think this take is more lore-accurate than your average romantasy… Fae have always been a representation of “the strange”. They’ve always been a mix of ethereal, uncanny and alien. Johnsons interpretation of them as humans morphed into almost Lovecraftian, incomprehensible creatures feels far more true to that spirit than your average handsomely brooding love interest…
This uncanny, ungraspable quality to the fae and their influence translates into some very effective horror elements that’s always particularly effective on me.
While in parts this is a high-fantasy story of fae, people with superhero-like abilities and wild and untamable landscapes, at its core is a very human base. Our protagonists Cal and Evangeline carry the story, and their devotion to their family adds a deeper layer of emotional weight to the events that follow.
I didn’t just enjoy this book whilst I was reading it, but I feel like I will be chewing on its world and concepts for a while to come.

What I didn’t love:
Having read all three of this author’s published works, I’ve noticed a consistent pattern of feeling like his pacing could do with a bit more tweaking. Specifically, I think Johnson struggles with the infamous “second-act-sag” in his three-act structure. There’s a very noticeable drop in pacing between the 30% and 70%-mark, where the novel spends a lot of time developing backstories and lore without actually progressing the main plot. On the one hand, I understand why this was necessary, as the emotional ramifications of the later events just wouldn’t have had the same impact without it. On the other hand, I think this part simply was too long, and could’ve achieved the same effect with less repetition.
To give a spoiler free concrete example: the equinox functions as the story’s midpoint break. It signals the end of the “fun and games” and turns the story in a direction that’s more personal to the characters. Yet it doesn't happen at the “midpoint”, but at the 70% mark… For all that time, we’re waiting and treading water, and I fear that some readers will DNF before this point, which is an absolute shame.

Many thanks to DAW Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Lizardley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this quite a lot. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I was a little worried that the premise of this book would not go as hard as it seemed like it would, but I was not disappointed. Johnson does a really good job of making the fae seem Lovecraftian (or at least Lovecraftian-adjacent). The fencers feel the same; the powers in theory are interesting, even if I think that the execution could have been a little better. I do want to know if there are transgender implications around true names. The lore around the Sylvans was really fun too. This was likely not the point, but I was compelled by their worship spaces and how they were an insane combination of Mormonism and Scientology. I fucked with it. I similarly fucked with ex-English major Calidore; that is some shit I would do.

On a more negative note, the pacing felt a little off. The ebook that I read was 370 pages, and 150 of those pages were somewhat cloying set-up to the thriller bits. I am not a parent, and maybe this hits differently if you are a parent, but after awhile, I just didn't care. I already cared if Winnie lived or died, I didn't need this many scenes to establish that their family is happy, especially when I'm begging for the action stuff they're talking about doing to happen. This book also gets so weird about the government to the point where I find it a little camp. I'm simply not sure if I believe that in the United States of America everyone was cool with this level of transparent government interference in people's lives. Surely there are some weirdos who have formed a militia to wage war on the fae with AR-15s from their mountain compound.

Anyway, good book, the power of love always gets me.

[Amie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a near-future world transformed by the appearance of eerie nature preserves known as Harbors, the dead don't die – they turn strange, fae, and vanish into the wild. Every autumnal equinox brings another wave of magical chaos. Evangeline and Calidore, fencers tasked with maintaining the barriers between the human world and the fae, find themselves caught in a global conspiracy just as the next equinox looms. As the mystery deepens, they must reckon with the truth of what lies beyond the fences – and who the Bloodless Queen really is.

I really liked this – weird, rich worldbuilding, and a fresh take on faerie myth mixed with eco-horror and future-fantasy. The imagery was evocative and unsettling, and while it leans into the uncanny, it still has an emotional centre thanks to the family dynamic. The twists were genuinely surprising, layered through the plot in clever, satisfying ways. A strong, strange, enjoyable read.

[Jamedi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally on JamReads

The Bloodless Queen is an eco sci-fi thriller novel, written by Joshua Phillip Johnson, and published by DAW Books. A haunting tale that also blends touches of fantasy and horror inside, a really emotional exploration of grief and the extend we can go to fight it, with a well-crafted cast of characters and an imaginative worldbuilding that also includes a really engaging political plot.

The world has changed since the appearance of the Harbors, eerie reserves that seem to keep the Fae inside; during the Equinox day, the dead don't die, they turn into strange creatures that bring death and chaos. Calidore and Evangeline are fencers, tasked with maintaining the barriers between the human and the Fae world, with the help of their special abilities. However, with the next equinox coming soon, they will find themselves in the middle of a global conspiracy, having to venture and find the truth behind the Harbors and sacrifice much if they want to keep their family, even if that means bargaining with the Bloodless Queen.

Grief could be defined as the central theme around which everything is tied; Johnson does an excellent job of portraying the different ways it can be present, and how difficult sometimes is the process of letting it go. Parenting also plays a key role in how Calidore and Evangeline act, risking everything when they lose their child, even if that means entering unexplored territory; the emotional depth of the cast is one of the highlights of the book for me.

The worldbuilding makes the best of the alt-history features, taking a disruptive act as the base to the establishment of what we could define as a dystopian society; however, the most imaginative part is a depiction of the Fae that blends the classic myths with a more Lovercraftian nature and the introduction of fencers, who could be drawn as a parallel to superheroes.
If there's an aspect where this book struggles is the pacing, as we have a first third and a final third that are well balanced, but when we reach the second part, the most thriller oriented one, it struggles to keep in line with the rest of the book.

The Bloodless Queen is, to be fair, a difficult to classify book, but if you are looking for a really different approach to science-fantasy and want to read a novel exploring grief, you could give this one a try!

[rose ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“what luck to know you are lucky.”

set in an alternate near-future where half of the earth has been fenced off into mysterious nature preserves, those who die on the autumnal equinox come back changed and fae, and teams of “fencers” with superhuman abilities protect the human world, the bloodless queen is at once an eerie science horror novel and an intimate story of grief and love.

i can’t say i’ve ever read anything quite like the bloodless queen before. it crosses genre lines and boasts wickedly inhuman faeries, government-employed superheroes, religious extremists, and a global conspiracy, but at its heart it’s about a family: two fencers, evangeline and calidore, and their daughter, winnie. despite its fantastical elements, it feels incredibly true to human nature in ways that only add to the creeping horror of the story.

my only real complaint is about the ending—i wish certain things had been left more ambiguous and up to the reader’s interpretation.

i think readers looking for unique interpretations of faerie lore (and/or the superhero genre) and deeply human characters and emotions, who don’t mind slower pacing and perhaps a little pretentiousness, will really enjoy this one.

“to hell with a god who could or would or should prevent that kind of thing—what about the universe itself? what use were the laws of physics and the goddamn theorems that held the stars together and kept them spinning if they couldn’t prevent this horror? what universe could at once sprinkle the night sky with a billion billion stars and allow this?”

arc provided by netgalley and DAW in exchange for an honest review.

rating: 4.5/5.0 stars

[Sara Gaudet · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Bloodless Queen is set on Earth, where monstrosities called Fae live in dedicated areas (Harbours). The only humans who can step into the Harbours are Fencers - superhuman beings who have unique powers that allow them to eliminate the Fae. Much of how the Fae and fencers came to be is still a mystery. Each year on the fall equinox a supernatural phenomenon takes places where humans who die on this day, are turned Fae and must migrate from the human land to the Harbours. The Fae are such monstrosities that all humans, except the Fencers, flee to their homes and remain in lockdown, in hopes of surviving. The story centres around a group of fencers as they prepare to defend the human land on the upcoming equinox, and wrestle with the conspiracies and oddities of those in power.

The concept of this book is awesome, and the setting, history, science and magic foundational elements drew me in quickly. The combination of fantasy and sci-fi is was interesting. The familiar elements mixed with such a novel concept had me hooked right away. The story plays with themes of environmentalism, corruption, religion, faith and humanity. All in ways that fit so well with the nature of the story, creating depth. I enjoyed the writing style, it made the world and story feel approachable. There are also emotional layers developed throughout the story alongside the development of likeable characters like Cal, Evangeline, Winnie and even Sister Marla.

My primary criticisms have to do with pacing and world building. The first part of the book was really strong on both of these aspects. But the middle half of the book, I found myself waiting for critical information connected to the environment, history, magic and overall world building that had begun in part one. The focus shifted to the characters in a way that felt abrupt and a bit confusing. Large portions of the book were spent on low impact events rather than providing clarity on the magic, origins, history and even the science. I found myself questioning what the book was really about, and unfortunately many of those gaps were never clarified. Strong concept, great starting point but the world building and aspects that actually made it sci-fi/fantasy fizzled out. I think the title is misleading and this contributed to my disappointment. The Queen was such a small part of the story and I found myself waiting to understand her and the fae. There were a number of events in the last section that seemed convenient. These "exceptions" weren't grounded in the background that was given to the reader at any point in the book so they didn't add up.

I applaud the author for a very unique and compelling concept. I think if the story was more science or emotional/character forward from beginning to end, rather than trying to achieve both, it would have been more enjoyable. I would have loved more details around the magic, history, conspiracy earlier on, and particularly details that could make all the events in the last third more plausible.

**Thank you DAW for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[KMart Vet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn, book. You really came for my feelings, didn't you? Thanks for that, I guess. I didn't cry, but it was close. Real close.

A surreal blend of science fiction, gothic fantasy, ecological horror, alternative history, and dystopian vibes. If that sounds like a lot, it is. But somehow, Joshua Phillip Johnson makes it work. Throughout the story, there's this almost claustrophobic sense of dread. You know something is coming. You just don’t know what or when. The world-building is dark and original. This has a complex, layered, tragic world and the premise is wild.

After a mass death event on the autumnal equinox of 1987, the dead start coming back as fae. Eerie and alien, mischievous and dangerous. They are so creepy and remind me a bit of zombies somehow? The fae/alien/zombie (???) blend is unlike anything I’ve read. There’s nothing romantic or whimsical about these creatures. They’re unknowable, terrifying, and deeply unsettling. You’re never quite sure what rules they play by, and that makes the horror even more effective. Newly risen fae go into the Harbors, areas fenced off from humanity. And the superpowered humans who make sure that happens (and deal with fae in general) are called fencers. Listen, I know that was a huge amount of time to explain the very basic background, but it's complex!

There is domesticity laced with dread and it is brilliantly done. There’s a stretch in the middle where the pacing slows down to really dig into their characters. A touch of that mid-book slog, BUT it is necessary. It will all make sense. It's to hurt you later. :) Once things click into place again, it sprints.

Unflinchingly original, atmospheric as hell, and emotionally brutal in all the right ways. Go in blind. Let it mess you up.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, DAW Books, and Brilliance Publishing for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own. Highly recommend the audiobook.

[Aila Krisse · Rating 5 out of 5]

my brother asked me if I’m having a meltdown cause I was crying so much and low key… yeah I think I am

[Juni]

🗣🗣 let's goooooo

[Sarah Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magical prose, enchanting plot, endearing characters.
The audio of this book is beautifully performed.
While I'm not typically a lover of purple prose, objectively this book is incredibly well written. For my personal preference, it felt a little long-winded and drawn out. However, this does seem purposeful due to the nature of the book (the language of the fae/their history, etc).

[Gannon Youakim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not surprised I love this book. I know Johnson from my time at the University of Minnesota, Morris, so I have some bias here, but even stepping back from that connection, this book offers so much. Magic. Mystery. Joy. Sorrow. Life and meaning and purpose. It is seldom a reader gets the feeling of having one foot in the real and one in the arcane, but Johnson has mastered the ability to conjure this feeling in his most recent novel. I laughed, and I cried, and I never wanted to put the book down. If you are a fan of fantasy and literature, you must read this book.

[Ava · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have so much to say about this book that I don't even know where to start. I finished reading it mere minutes ago, after barely being able to put it down the past few days. Truly I can't wait for release day because I need so many people to read it immediately.
I don't think I've ever read a more unique or unsettling portrayal of faeries before, and I loved how terrifying and brutal they are. I'm not usually one for urban fantasy, so at first, I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this book, but honestly it ended up not even being an issue. There was the perfect splash of science fiction to round it out for me.
From the moment I met them, I fell in love with Cal, Winnie, Evangeline, and Tennyson (I'm a sucker for a protective, loving dog) and I was desperate for every moment of their family that I could get my hands on.
With tears in my eyes, I beg you to read this book as soon as it releases--you'll be doing yourself a favor.

[Chelsea]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

The Bloodless Queen by Joshua Phillip Johnson is a third person multi-POV alternative history contemporary fantasy. During Ronald Reagan’s presidency, his wife was given a book on the Faerie Queen that changed the course of history, creating Harbors where half the earth would be returned to nature. Cal and Evangeline are a married couple who are also fencers, keeping an eye on the Harbor borders while raising their daughter Winnie. But Winnie might be in a danger they could have never predicted.

There are strong themes of religion and traditional ideas of fairies in the book. The Harbors latch onto names and fencers actually not only take new names but there are entire organizations devoted to wipe the memory of a fencer’s true name from everyone who has ever heard it. Only the fencer is incapable of forgetting. Cal and Evangeline gave each other their real names as wedding presents but don’t use them because of the danger it poses for them to do so. The religion aspect comes from a faith that rose up in response to the Harbors called the Sylvans and they worship the Faerie Queen. While Cal and Evangeline believe something is happening in the Harbors, they do not believe the Queen is anything more than a myth.

This moves at a fairly slow pace as it explores the world and the conspiracies as fully as possible. There are excerpts after each chapter that add even more texture to the world and story, with many of them having been written in an academic paper in 2027. I don’t know if this is necessarily world-driven like some other books I’ve read are or if the book just takes a more explorational direction that is also very deep in the character POVs and explores their relationships to the world.

I would recommend this to readers who love complex worldbuilding and fans of alternative history fantasy

[Jaime · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and DAW for providing me with an ARC of this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Let me start by saying that concept is so interesting. I was immediately intrigued by the creepy fae that play such a huge part in the daily lives of these characters. Joshua Johnsons strengh lies in balancing ‘mundane’ daily activities, family relationships and the fantasy and horror of what’s going on in this world. I also liked the themes of corruption, religion and environmentalism playing a huge role in the story.

I liked the main characters, Cal and Evangeline. Their relationship and bond felt real and tight from the start. I really liked their interactions with their child and how they raised her despite all the horrors.

My main issues lie with the chaotic feel of the story and the pacing that didn’t always make sense to me. In the beginning there was just so much going on in terms of names, lore, history and crises. There was a bit too much going and I noticed myself not caring about all of the elements. Later the focus of the story shifted more to characters having personal issues, where I actually wanted a little bit more explanations. Even though there was so much information, I had several questions throughout the story that weren’t really answers. I felt myself a bit dissappointed in the end because I wanted to learn even more about the fae.

All in all a very interesting book whicj I would recommend checking out if you like a twist on some beloved themes and creatures.

[Andrea · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want to start by thanking NetGalley and DAW for this ARC. The concept of this book is so intriguing.

In the near future, many parts of the world have sectioned off part of their land and put fences around it to allow the fae to roam. On the equinox, if you die you might turn into one. The people still inhabiting the world are divided into those who believe things a gift, those who think the land should be taken back, and those who protect the fences keeping the fae and humans separate.
Cal and Evangeline are fencers, those who protect the fences in the Midwest. After doing their duty on the equinox, they come home to their daughter Winnie having died and turned fae.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this book. I struggled through about 30% of it and just couldn’t get into it. It is slow moving and skips around so much without tying things together that I had no idea what was going on and it lost me. Things I did like were the way the fantasy was tied to real world things, but that’s as much as I could appreciate.

[Michaela Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy through NetGalley for review.

I'm not even sure there's a way for me to explain the plot to this book in under 10 minutes just because there is so much going on. It's very densely written there's both fantasy elements, science and math going at once for different reasons. It leans a little more on the science fiction side for me.

The entire book is clearly based off of Tennyson's poem The Faerie Queen. Notably the Fencer Calidore. Who in many ways finds himself paralleling the character he named himself for. And suffering and sacrificing himself to save the ones he loves.

It's examining human nature, looking inward at yourself and the terrible things you have to do to protect others. Looking at what it might take to protect the planet from those who would harm it.

If you have a hard time with very sad heart crushing endings this one may not be for you. It's been a while since an ending made me cry this hard.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first three-quarters of this book were a little muddled imo, like it never knew quite what genre or mood it wanted to be in (or from who's perspective it should be narrated). And then the last quarter of the book is so simple and hits so hard.
I would read a whole comedy action series about fencers and primacies though, so.

[Megan Cowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good urban fantasy, history story as much as the next gal. And I thoroughly enjoyed how heartfelt this book was!

It did take me some time to get through it, as I find long chapters quite jarring. But I’m glad I pushed through and finished!

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book!

[aila ✧.* · Rating 4 out of 5]

ok so that was actually just evil 😀

[Emma De Vos Tidd · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

The Bloodless Queen is a strikingly unique entry into the fantasy genre—one that blends the arcane with the uncanny in a way that feels fresh and deeply imaginative. Joshua Philip Johnson has crafted a world where magic is not just a tool, but a deeply integrated part of life, and the system he’s built around it is both creative and coherent. There are unmistakably Lovecraftian elements threaded throughout the narrative—strange forces, unknowable powers, and a persistent sense of dread—that add an extra layer of tension and mystery to an already compelling story.

The characters are a major highlight. Cal and Evangeline’s little family is written with warmth and authenticity, grounding the story even as it veers into eldritch terror and fantastical chaos. Winnie, in particular, is a delightful presence—one of those characters who lights up the page and brings a smile every time she appears. It’s rare to find a fantasy novel where even the smallest character moments resonate as deeply as the world-shattering conflicts.

One of the most impressive aspects of the novel is the fencers and their abilities. Their powers are some of the most inventive I’ve ever encountered in fantasy, striking a perfect balance between awe and narrative cohesion. Johnson manages to create magic that is unpredictable yet logical, and wholly consistent within the strange, shadowy framework of his world.

That said, I did struggle with the pacing. The slow burn of the first two-thirds (or even three-quarters) of the book worked well for me, building atmosphere, tension, and deep emotional stakes. But when the climactic moments arrived, they felt like they came and went too quickly. The intent—to convey chaos and uncontrollability—makes sense, but it ultimately left the ending feeling rushed and less impactful than it could have been.

Despite that, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. This book offers something truly different in the fantasy space, and I think most readers will find something to admire in its originality, its characters, or its eerie, compelling world.

Thanks to NetGalley and DAW for the chance to review this eARC.

[Rachel Sizer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a Net Galley Arc

This was seriously phenomenal. I found myself completely immersed in the world of primes. I liked the historical background and would've loved to learn more about how the book came to be, but I also appreciated that no one knew. I loved that everything was blamed on Ronald Regan, because yeah, everything is his fault.

Overall if you are looking for a sci-fi to knock your socks off and some real family devotion, I recommend this one.

[Ash Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joshua Phillip Johnson has created a story that feels completely unique, as beautiful as is it unsettling. In the 1980’s a previously unknown, extremely rare book began circulating between world leaders triggering a monumental move for environmental conservation and biodiversity. 50% of the world’s land mass would be fenced off, allowing nature to reclaim it, but something went wrong. Nature didn’t step in to recover her land, something else did. The Bloodless Queen.

On the autumnal equinox of 1987 the world celebrated as half the land was fenced off for the Harbours (nature reserves). People die every day, 132,329 people died that day, but none of them stayed dead. Instead they transformed into Fae: mischievous, malevolent and dangerous. Both fascinating and grotesque. All inextricably called to the harbours leaving chaos and ruin in their wake. Every year on the equinox this cycle repeats, anyone who dies returns as Fae. Those murdered by the fae on this night do not return.

As the world adapts to their new circumstances a rapid human evolution occurs. 545 people wake up and find themselves covered in numerical tattoos, they later discover each of these individuals have developed supernatural abilities, that aid them in defending the world against the fae. All tattoos combine to make a prime number, the lower the prime number the more potent the power, called Primacies. The primes offer a level of protection from the affects of the harbours. Primes can enter the harbours where other humans would die.

These changed humans become Fencers. Government Assets used to protect the borders, assist with research and shepherd the new fae into the harbours on the equinox. As the world learns more about the Fae and the harbours, they adapt. Fencers lose their identity. The government enforces memory manipulation to erase the names from the minds of people who know and love them. Names hold terrible power.

Society is divided, the horrors of the early years are fading as the fencers become more effective. Protests break out over government control and the polarised views of the Fae. Some think the fae are monstrous aberrations, something to be locked away and feared. Other believe the faerie queen is their god, offering salvation once a year allowing a life after death, a blessing. New religions bloom from the need to navigate a changed world and infiltrate every level of society.

This book starts with a haunting scene and keeps pulling you in. Leaning into more traditional interpretations of Fae and also taking inspiration from Jeff Vandermeer’s writing. The forces that encompass the Harbours leach out and change the outside world. The land inside the harbours in unrecognisable. Things that were familiar become alien, the natural world is distorted and changed. Wonder and dread bleed together. Further information is shared with official reports interspersed between allowing for a micro and macro building of this world.

We follow Evangaline and Calidore, Fencers and prized government assets as they prepare for the equinox in a world of shifting public opinion and the threat of the Fae and their queen constantly looming. We also enter their home, peering into their family life and meeting their beloved daughter Winnie. The family unit is a real labour of love, an anchor to ground Cal and Evangeline amidst the horror, chaos and trauma they find themselves surrounded by.

The Harbours morph the familiar into the unknown. Nothing is incorruptible. When a person dies on the equinox, they are charged. The Fencers are indoctrinated to believe nothing human remains. The religious Sylvans believe the opposite.
Something unimaginable happens and Cal and Evangeline are forced to reconsider everything they know.

A story of human adaption, betrayal, corruption, sacrifice and hope when the odds are stacked against you.

The story and world is both devastating and beautiful. The fencers have some incredibly original powers and the characters are at the heart of this story.
What holds us together? What makes us who we are? What are you willing to sacrifice to hold on to the one thing that matters most?

The Bloodless Queens is lyrically haunting and gripping.
There’s no safety in this world, characters lives hang on a knife’s edge and the threat doesn’t always come from where you think it will. The environment, politics, religion, loyalty, love, hope - all examined in the microcosm of this universe. Fantastic!

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved The Bloodless Queen. This story is so difficult to describe; think Annihilation meets Under the Pendulum Sun by way of World War Z and the X-Men, and you might be getting close.

This book is wild, beautiful, horrifying, and deeply emotional. Truly genre-defying, it will not work for some readers; but if you enjoy unique stories, more literary pacing, and plots that lean towards the weird side and stretch the boundaries of fantasy, sci-fi, and horror, I think you will love The Bloodless Queen.

Anyone who dies on the autumn equinox becomes fae: wild, strange, and deadly. This has been a fact of life since the world opened the Harbors, large areas of land fenced off and given back to nature. The fae flee to the Harbors after their transformations, making those areas dangerous and unknowable, and the government hires Fencers-humans enhanced with magical abilities- to protect the boundaries and dispose of any fae on the human side. Evangeline and Calidore are powerful Fencers, but at home, they are just a normal, happy family with a beautiful daughter named Winnifred. When the autumn equinox brings tragedy and Winnifred turns fae, her parents defy their government and take her deep into the Harbors in search of a cure that will bring their baby girl back to them. As they travel deeper into the strange and deadly wilds, they begin to suspect that the worst encounter lies ahead; deep within the Harbors, something waits for them.

I loved everything about this book, but I think my favorite part was the fae. I am always ready to read a story about the fae, but I’ve never read a book that described them like this before. These fae feel new, and exciting, while also drawing enough parallels to the old folklore and fairytales to keep the “dots” connected between the two. Johnson’s fae seem like an extension of nature, her wildness and whimsy and danger all rolled into one. The world building around the appearance of the fae and humanities’ response to them created a setting that is dark fantasy and sci-fi dystopia rolled into one.

I also loved that in this alien and unique story setting, the main plot thread is as old as time: a parent’s sacrificial love for their child. I was rooting so hard for Evangeline and Calidore throughout this story as they fought to save their daughter; in a book that could have focused on the world-wide peril the fae and the Harbors represent, the author instead chose to focus on one family, and I thought that made the story so relatable and powerful. This book does get devastatingly emotional, so please be aware of that if you don’t like emotionally heavy-hitting stories.

At once an adventure story, a dark fairytale, a sci-fi horror, and a thoughtful exploration of human relationships and our impact on the natural world, there is a lot going on in The Bloodless Queen. At times, it did feel that there was possibly too much going on; I think this could easily have been a duology. However, I did not find it confusing, and the numerous story elements and themes are part of what make this book so unique and wonderful. I have seen some reviewers state that the pacing was too slow for them; I did not find this to be the case, but I enjoy books that take their time. I felt that there was plenty of action throughout the book, and that the extra descriptions / etc. helped me care more deeply for the characters and understand the world better.

The Bloodless Queen is definitely going to be one of my favorite reads of 2025, and I have preordered a hard copy for my personal library. I can’t wait to see what this author writes moving forward!

I would recommend The Bloodless Queen to fans of The Southern Reach Series, genre-stretching books, and emotionally resonant stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and DAW Publishers for the arc! All thoughts & opinions in the review are my own.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for the eARC copy of this book!

This book follows Cal and Evangeline in a near future version of Earth where sections of land called Harbors have been set aside and are now occupied by the Fae and connect to the Faerie lands. Each autumnal equinox, any people who die on the autumnal equinox are turned to fae and make their way to one of these harbors. Cal and Evangeline are “fencers”, people with special powers granted from prime numbers that are tattooed on their bodies from an unknown power. Their job is to help protect people on the equinox and ensure the fae get to the Harbors. This was giving a mix of The Purge and Annihilation.

This book had such an interesting concept, but the author had to spend a lot of time explaining the magic system of the prime numbers as well as the Harbors. This created a lag in the pacing, and made it so that I didn’t really know what the goal of the story was. The first half of this story felt more like a domestic fiction than a fantasy story, following Cal, Evangeline, and their 7 year old daughter in their day to day lives. We see them have a pizza night with their boss, and then a character says that they will reflect on the perfectness of this night after the nightmare that comes. It felt like the only reason for this long chapter was for foreshadowing that was really heavy handed. The characters were a little flat, and my favorites were Oddry and Incident.

Additionally, the exposition had a lot of info-dumping, almost beating the reader over the head with it. At one point, we see Cal and Evangeline testing a special Walkie- talkie in the harbor, and it is stated multiple times that technology doesn’t work close to the harbors. Rather than showing us with a scene of a phone crackling or being blank, this is just told, over and over that this tech won’t work.

The political intrigue between the mathematicians and the fencers and the Sylvan church was interesting, but did feel like a slog to get through to the equinox. I was reading to figure out everyone’s abilities from their primes, as well as to see what an Equinox looked like. Once we got there, it was so cool to see and think about the uses for these powers. Additionally, seeing inside the harbors and the wild scientific effects was one of my favorite parts.

Since there was so much of this intrigue between the groups in the beginning, I was expecting to see more of this, maybe with our characters actually getting interrogated. Once the Equinox started and the action picked up, it felt like we never took our foot off the gas, almost rushing to the finish line.

The ending did have me tearing up, but I did find myself questioning some of the logic of the characters at the end. As there is not a lot of knowledge of the Fae Queen, it felt like a jump for our characters to try to bargain with her since they weren’t even sure if she existed for 75% of the book. As the initial pacing was so slow, this felt rushed and almost forced.

Overall, I liked the magic and the setting of this story once we got to see them.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 / 5 stars

Thank you to DAW Books and Brilliance Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions expressed here are my own.

On the autumnal equinox of 1987, over 100,000 people died – but instead of staying dead, they came back as fae-like zombies, spreading chaos before disappearing into huge, fenced-off nature preserves called Harbors. Every year since, on that same day, the dead rise again, fueling whispers of a mysterious bloodless faerie queen who rules the wilds beyond the fences.

Fast forward to today: Calidore and Evangeline are “fencers,” government agents marked by magical prime number tattoos, tasked with keeping the fragile boundary between humans and faerie intact. When they’re not battling supernatural threats, they’re devoted parents trying to give their nearly seven-year-old daughter, Winnie, as normal a life as possible – filled with scavenger hunts, chess games, and good old-fashioned Pizza Nights.

But as the next equinox approaches, Cal and Evangeline stumble into a conspiracy that could unravel everything they’ve fought to protect. With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, they must face the dark secrets lurking at the heart of the Harbors – and make impossible choices about what it means to survive.

You know that feeling when you finish a book and it lingers in your mind for days, pulling you back into its strange, unsettling world? The Bloodless Queen is that kind of book.

Imagine Annihilation’s eerie, encroaching wilderness, the mutant hero energy of X-Men, and the mythic pulse of The Faerie Queen, all stitched together with meticulous world-building that rewards patient, curious readers. This book is dense with lore (and I say that as a compliment), offering a world I would happily return to in future books. I get the sense there’s still so much more to explore.

The story is anchored by the beautiful family at its core: Cal, Evangeline, and Winnie. I loved how they try to carve out a sense of normalcy in a world that’s anything but, holding tight to scavenger hunts and pizza nights even as they wield terrifying powers and stand between humanity and the faerie unknown. Their devotion made the book’s quieter moments shine, and when the stakes rose, it was their love for each other that gave the ending its emotional punch (yes, I cried).

If you’re looking for a gothic thriller, as the blurb suggests, you might find this leans more toward lush sci-fi/fantasy with occasional moments of creeping dread. And if you’re hoping for an Orpheus retelling, know that thread doesn’t truly surface until deep into the story – though when it does, it may not take the form you are expecting. But it lands with power.

I listened to this on audio, narrated by Eric Altheide, who offers a steady, clear performance that lets the story shine without distraction – solid, if not a standout for me.

In all, The Bloodless Queen is a rewarding, layered read for those who love patient world-building, unique magic systems, and sci-fi that bumps up against the supernatural.

[Winnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1987, I was seven years old, eating burritos and rocking out to the movie The Chipmunk Adventure. In Joshua Phillip Johnson’s alternate history, 1987 played out very differently. In this world, people who died on the autumn equinox didn’t stay dead. Instead, they became fae—inhuman and dangerous beings who maim and kill anyone standing between them and the protected areas of the world known as Harbors.

The story is set in the present day and follows Evangeline and Calidore, a married couple who serve as fencers in the Midwest Harbor. Fencers are essentially government-sanctioned superheroes, granted unique powers through prime number tattoos that mysteriously appear on their skin. The smaller the prime number, the greater the power. Evangeline and Calidore juggle the looming threat of the equinox with the recent death of Cal’s father, the challenges of raising their nearly seven-year-old daughter Winnie, the rise of a cult-like, Fae-worshiping religion called the Church of Always Giving, and the politics of defending a world that doesn’t fully understand the danger they face. Public opinion is shifting, with many believing fencer funding could be better spent elsewhere.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Bloodless Queen. The fencer powers were original and memorable—not your standard superhero fare. I also appreciated the alternate history elements, particularly the excerpts from in-world history books. Instead of skipping over them like I sometimes do in other books, I found myself looking forward to each excerpt.

The narrative is told in third person but focuses primarily on Evangeline and Calidore. I liked both characters, though I especially connected with Calidore—probably because I’m a book nerd too. Their love and devotion to each other and their daughter was touching, even if it occasionally felt a little over the top. The pacing started off slow for me, but once the story picked up, I was hooked. By the time the climax arrived, I found myself missing the earlier, quieter moments I initially thought were too slow.

I would recommend this book to fans of fantasy. While there are sci-fi elements, the story leans more into the fantasy genre. Be aware that grief and death are central themes. Calidore’s struggle with his father’s death is a key emotional thread, and the Church of Always Giving glorifies death and suicide. The fae are terrifying, and those who die on the equinox become one of them. This book doesn’t shy away from emotional weight, so go in prepared.

One last (mild) spoiler: the dog lives.

Many thanks to NetGalley and DAW Books for the ARC. This review reflects my honest opinion.

[Laramie Graber · Rating 3 out of 5]

The opening scene of The Bloodless Queen is electric, full of fun action in a world wondrously and horrifyingly strange. Frustratingly, it quickly becomes lost in details.

Led by Ronald Reagan in the 1980’s, the entire world set aside nature preserves, now known as Harbors. These became the domain of monstrous Fae, and each autumnal equinox everyone that dies transforms into a Fae, wreaking havoc before they join their brethren in the harbors. Fencers, people granted magical powers at the same time the Harbors came into existence, are the only people who can stop them.

It's an ideal premise for a thrilling, fast-paced plot. The Bloodless Queen contains this plot, but so much of it is told rather than shown. Every fantasy book needs to provide world-building and backstory to propel itself forward. The Bloodless Queen goes overboard, stopping so frequently mid-scene to recount lore or personal and important events that the scenes become vehicles for information rather than the backstory supporting the action. It’s understandable, the world is creative and carefully thought-out, but with so little time spent in the moment, the novel struggles to maintain momentum.

For me, the problem was driven home with the reveal of the conspiracy at the novel’s center. There is nothing wrong with the conspiracy itself, it’s clever. However, the protagonists haven’t actively uncovered much of it, simply lacking key connecting details to put it all together. Instead, many clues come in info-dumps or descriptions of scenes elsewhere, with a few only being mentioned with the reveal itself. While still satisfying, the reveal isn’t nearly as effective as it could be.

The Bloodless Queen is better as it goes along with less details to fill in, the writing expertly and evocatively capturing the horrible strangeness of the Fae (even if it can sometimes be repetitive). The ending, with the plot to the fore, is moving. However, I would hesitate to recommend the novel to anyone other than those readers who are big fans of world-building.

Thank you to NetGalley and DAW Books for the ARC.