What reading level is The shadow queen?

The shadow queen by C. J. Redwine is at a Level 5-6 reading level (Lexile 890L). Recommended for Upper Grades readers (Ages 13+).

What age is The shadow queen appropriate for?

The shadow queen is recommended for Ages 13+. HootRating: 10ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is The shadow queen?

The shadow queen is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does The shadow queen have any content warnings?

The shadow queen has a HootRating of 10ME (Moderate — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is The shadow queen?

The shadow queen by C. J. Redwine is 387 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

The shadow queen

C. J. Redwine

The shadow queen

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by C. J. Redwine

Reading Level 5-6 10ME Ages 13+ Matched

The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

What if a princess had to become a powerful sorceress to defeat the wicked queen who stole her kingdom and her father’s life? Imagine her racing against a magical huntsman sent to capture her heart—literally. Will she outsmart dark magic before losing everything she holds dear?

Themes

Fantasy World-BuildingMagicAdventure Romance Coming of AgeYoung Adult Fiction

Quick Assessment

This young adult fantasy novel reimagines the Snow White tale with dark magic, political intrigue, and complex characters. It features themes of power struggles, loyalty, and romance suitable for teens aged 13 and up. Parents should note the presence of magical violence and emotional tension but no graphic content.

Why we rated The shadow queen 10ME

The shadow queen is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 890L across 387 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The shadow queen works for readers up to grade 7.5.

We rate The shadow queen as 10ME ("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, The shadow queen explores fantasy world-building, magic, adventure, romance, and coming of age — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 13+ 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, magic, adventure.

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.