The Island Queen: or Dethroned by Fire and Water: a tale of the Southern Hemisphere (1885) is a novel written by Scottish author R.M.

[5] The novel's major themes include 19th century British imperialism, the value of Christianity, and the development of social hierarchies.

[citation needed] Ballantyne published the novel after having moved from Edinburgh to Harrow, a north London borough, to allow his children to finish school in 1873.

An earthquake strikes suddenly and begins to destroy the colony, and everyone flees in the only intact boat just before the entire island sinks into the sea.

[7] Ballantyne became one of the first adventure novelists to conduct background research to develop more realistic settings and descriptions for his novels.

The theme of imperialism, explained by Deborah Anna Logan, arises as the children begin to see themselves as landowners and start to build an empire.

[11] Social hierarchies quickly develop, and the children each play a role in the society which they have devised, based on British government.

Ballantyne's books contain more details of the local flora and fauna, as well as moralistic dialogue, than is usual in present-day stories.

[10] The London Quarterly Review criticised the book for overemphasising piety out of keeping with the adventurous spirit of the novel.

[10] Michelle Elleray also discussed Ballantyne's overt Christianity and pointed out that he used his novels as a way of providing educational and religious material in an entertaining way.