Kingsbane
Claire Legrand
Kingsbane
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Claire Legrand
The text is written at a 8th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Here’s a secret: two queens from different centuries share a powerful bond through hidden truths and dangerous lies. One must gather magical pieces to protect her kingdom, while the other faces a choice that could change everything. But that’s only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
Kingsbane is the second book in a fantasy series that follows two queens separated by centuries, each facing their own intense challenges involving magic, betrayal, and difficult decisions. Suitable for middle grade readers, it explores themes of power, trust, and identity while including some mature fantasy elements such as political intrigue and supernatural conflict. Parents should note the presence of complex emotional struggles and fantasy violence.
Why we rated Kingsbane 12ME
Kingsbane is written at a Level 8 reading level across 608 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Kingsbane works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate Kingsbane as 12ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, Kingsbane explores fantasy world-building, adventure, friendship, family, and romance — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about fantasy world-building, adventure, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781728206967
- Pages
- 608
- Publisher
- Sourcebooks Fire
- Published
- 2020
- Type
- Fiction