Lloyd Alexander noted that the book was inspired by several different sources, including the paintings of Francisco Goya and key figures in the French Revolution.

"[1] Writing on the origin of the series, Lloyd Alexander noted that many of the characters bore at least some resemblance to historical figures--Louis St Just and the radical Justin, Napoleon Bonaparte and "the gallant and charismatic Florian," Giuseppe Balsamo and Count Las Bombas are a few of the notable pairs.

[4] When addressing a 1985 conference of the Children's Literature Association, he specifically noted that "in The Kestrel and The Beggar Queen, I relied upon my own experiences and observations of some forty years ago.

"[3] He also stated that Marianstat, the capital city of Westmark where most of the novel's action takes place, was directly inspired by his postwar sojourn in Paris.

[2] Inspired by Francisco Goya's Los Caprichos, he realized that The Beggar Queen's true protagonists were the everyday citizens of Marianstat who stood up to Cabbarus, writing that "The vital centers of the story had to do with love, loyal friendships, and, above all, hopefulness and possibilities.

Constantine's uncle cooperates with other opponents of the new Westmark regime to fund a coup supporting the return of Cabbarus and supply him with mercenaries.

For her part, Mickle has been seeking a path to transition to a more republican form of government and therefore freedom to marry Theo and rule her life as she pleases.

It is decided that Florian will attempt to solicit aid from Constantine in Regia while Mickle and Theo organize the citizenry in armed urban resistance to Cabbarus and his regime.

Justin makes contact with Theo, Las Bombas, and other leaders of the pro-Mickle faction and insists that the urban resistance begin to fight violently instead of passively smuggling arms and slowing down the occupation.

Most of the resistance's leadership has fallen in the streets fighting, but the survivors have formed a provisional government headed by Count Las Bombas.

Noted feminist magazine New Directions for Women praised Alexander's "skillful interweaving of several fascinating themes," including censorship, regime change and political revolution.

[5] Boys' Life was also largely positive, calling Beggar Queen "a historical fantasy" and praised both the novel and the Westmark series for its "interesting characters, plot twists and exciting action.

"[7] Karen Stang Hanley, for Booklist, praised the conclusion to the series and wrote that "Considered as a unit, the trilogy has a remarkable depth and symmetry.

[9] Reactor's Mari Ness critiqued the book, saying that "it’s dense, it keeps crisscrossing here and there, it has far too many subplots, and a very high and fairly depressing death count."