Agatha the Beloved Queen by Fred Pilcher: A Novel Review

Agatha—as implied by the title—is the daughter of the Kingdom of Xana, the rightful heir to the throne, known for her kindness, wisdom, and populism. She enjoys visiting the outskirts of the palace to observe everyday life and assist her people. However, goodness will always have its enemies. With her knowledge, determination, and wisdom, Agatha strides step by step, overcoming obstacles towards the prosperity of the Kingdom of Xana alongside chosen individuals and beloved citizens.

The novel "Agatha the Beloved Queen" (2021, Outskirts Press) by Fred Pilcher becomes a historical fiction novel full of everyday drama and romance. The story doesn't only focus on the main character but also on the characters from the people of Xana, each with their own moral messages. This is good, but sometimes it becomes boring and induces drowsiness. The antagonists are also clearly defined and diverse, although fundamentally the same, selfish and obsessed with wealth and power.

The addition of supernatural elements serves as a Disney-esque feature injected by Fred Pilcher, representing his personal preferences and adding a unique nuance to this historical fiction tale. Sexual fantasies are also present here, making it borderline for the target readers. For me, this was quite surprising and somewhat disturbing compared to the battles and murders depicted.

I didn't find many typos. The language isn't too heavy to understand, and the traveler's POV also signifies that "Agatha the Beloved Queen" is a historical fiction with the characteristic culture of the medieval era.

So, in reality, this novel is very suitable for reading to children, but it needs a version without or with censorship of its sexual content. If you enjoy historical readings and light drama-romance, give this novel a try.

You can find "Agatha the Beloved Queen" on Amazon.

Score: 6.7/10

[See the review in Indonesian version]

Agatha—seperti yang tersemat pada judul, adalah putri Kerajaan Xana, sang pewaris tahta nan baik, bijaksana lagi merakyat. Ia senang mengunjungi daerah luar istana untuk observasi kehidupan sehari-hari dan membantu rakyatnya. Namun, kebaikan akan selalu punya musuh. Dengan ilmu, iktikad, dan kebijaksanaannya, Agatha melangkah setapak demi setapak serta melewati rintangan menuju kemakmuran Kerajaan Xana bersama orang-orang pilihan dan warga tercinta.

Novel Agatha the Beloved Queen (2021, Outskirts Press) karya Fred Pilcher ini menjadi novel fiksi historis yang penuh akan drama sehari-hari dan romansa. Ceritanya tak fokus pada sang tokoh utama, tetapi juga para tokoh dari rakyat Xana, dengan pesan moral masing-masing di dalamnya. Hal ini bagus, tapi kadang membosankan dan menyebabkan kantuk. Para antagonis pun dibuat jelas dan beragam, meski pada dasarnya sama, egois lagi gila harta dan kekuasaan.

Tambahan unsur sihir/supernatural menjadi ciri bak cerita Disney nan dituangkan Fred Pilcher sekaligus representasi kesukaan dirinya dan menambah nuanasa tersendiri dalam kisah fiksi historis ini. Fantasi seksual juga ada di sini, sehingga menjadi borderline target pembaca. Bagi saya, hal ini cukup mengejutkan dan agak meresahkan ketimbang pertempuran dan pembunuhan yang disajikan.

Tidak banyak tipo yang saya temukan. Bahasanya pun tidak begitu berat untuk dipahami, dan POV pengelana jua menjadi tanda penting bahwa Agatha the Beloved Queen ialah fiksi sejarah dengan ciri budaya abad pertengahan. 

Jadi, sebenarnya novel ini sangat cocok untuk dibacakan pada anak-anak, tapi perlu versi tanpa atau penyensoran terhadap konten seksualnya. Jika kalian suka bacaan historis dan drama-romansa ringan, cobalah novel ini.

*E-book novel ini tersedia di Amazon.

Skor: 7/10