Tag: The-Orphan-Queen • BookLikes

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review 2016-09-13 14:00

The Mirror King (Orphan Queen) - Jodi Meadows

This book picks up right where The Orphan Queen left off and the action never stops. I was holding my breath so much while reading this book. Tensions are already high with the coming destruction of the wraith and now Wil's identity has been revealed to everyone in the Indigo Kingdom and she struggles as she tries to control her magic and take back control of her kingdom.

Wil is a continuously growing character. She wants to be the queen that her people need but she's struggling with how to become that person. How do you go from being an orphan, living on the streets and fighting to survive to being a queen and being responsible for an entire kingdom? She manages, but not so gracefully at first. It's a learning experience for her and her friends as they navigate how to run a kingdom and deal with the wraith.

Wil and Tobiah's relationship is what made this story for me. I'm not big on romance but I just couldn't help it with these two. No matter the obstacles that get in their way they keep coming back to each other. And Tobiah's list at the end was just...Wow... I cried happy tears.

I am so glad we got to see more of James in this book! The mystery surrounding his miraculous healing in The Orphan Queen is finally revealed and I was completely blown away. Did not see that coming. I can't say much without spoiling the ending but James is a true hero with unyielding loyalty for those he cares about. The wraith boy, Chrysalis, worked his way into my heart. He is like a child, only wanting to please but he goes about it the wrong way and without thinking of the consequences. He was so devoted to Wil. I wish she would have showed him a little more attention because that's all he really wanted. I can't help but wonder if she HAD shown him more affection, would he have acted differently? Grown more compassionate and sympathetic, even more human? The ending was perfection. The entire book was a whirlwind of emotions. Of love and loss. Of adventure, action, magic and best of all, hope. This is one of those series that will stay with me for a long time.

-BW

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review 2016-09-11 15:01

The Orphan Queen

Lost Girls Reviews

Wilhelmina is an orphaned princess, her parents were murdered and her home kingdom of Aecor was conquered by King Terrell of the Indigo Kingdom 10 years ago in what is known as the One-Night war. Now she and her band of refugees, known as the Ospreys, are preparing to take back their kingdom. Wil and her best friend Melanie are infiltrating the palace under the guise of a duchess and her companion from Liadia to obtain information that will help them reclaim Aecor.

Wil has developed many talents over the years. She is an excellent fighter, a spy and a thief, master of forgery and a magic user- more specifically she is an animator, she can bring objects to life and command them to do what she wants. Magic is forbidden now and this is a secret she has kept to herself. Magic has created the wraith and it is slowly spreading across the world, poisoning the land and turning animals and humans into enormous monsters.

Black Knife is a masked vigilante in the Indigo Kingdom. He is feared by some and commended by others. He spends each night apprehending criminals and fighting wraith monsters that enter the city. I suspected his identity early in the book and I'm glad I was right. Black Knife and Wil's relationship has to be my favorite part of this entire book. I fell in love with him instantly and enjoyed following Wil along as she slowly did too.

The rest of the characters were pretty one dimensional to me. I would have liked to learn more about Patrick and Melanie and even Prince Tobiah. Maybe we will get more of them in the next book?

Overall, The Orphaned Queen is a spectacular fantasy world full of magic, romance and secrets. Well written and kept me hooked from the beginning. Oh and that cliffhanger ending- How could you do this to me, Jodi??? Starting the next book right away!

-BW

romance fantasy YA

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text 2016-08-01 22:41

Adding to library waitlist -- but I wish YA Fantasy books would stop comparing themselves to "Graceling" or "Seraphina"

Debbie's Spurts — feeling beaten

The comparison likely will just do them a disservice. In my opinion, few are going to measure up and will just be disappointing --plus, major reason for the popularity of books like Graceling - Kristin Cashore and Seraphina - Rachel Hartman is that they aren't comparable to other books out there.

Just reading the description, it actually sounds like would be more comparable to The Queen of the Tearling - Erika Johansen or Falling Kingdoms - Morgan Rhodes anyway (if only because the main character is disenfranchised royalty versus "lower caste").

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review 2016-07-16 16:58

The Mirror King Book Review

YA Fanatic

Mirror King felt very long. I really enjoyed the first book when I read it last year. And was anticipating the second one. It does look like this is only a dualogy which I'm glad. Its over 500 pages and honestly felt a bit repetitive at times.

Wil's identity is out. Everyone knows she is the queen. The Wrath is out to destroy the city. The Osprey's and Tobiah are missing in action. She's kept prisoner in the kingdom. Can she use her powers to save everyone?

A lot of this bored me. For a fantasy I wanted something more. The ending was a bit better than the first half of the book. But it easily could have been cut down in half -- which I've said before isn't totally unusual with long books like this.

I'm sure a lot of fantasy fans will love this series. Its not necessarily anything new in YA lit and especially in the fantasy genre. But it does have the elements of a decent series.

books fantasy Reading review book review the mirror king

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review 2016-06-14 23:37

On a Plane for 10+ Hours Reading

Escaping into My Books

Angelfall: 1 (Penryn and the End of Days) by Ee, Susan (2013) Paperback - Susan Mallery

I just recently came back from a trip to Italy, where I was for 2 weeks on vacation.

Words won't do my trip justice, but words can describe the horror of the 3+ Hour first leg of the flight and the 10+ hour second leg! Where my TV refused to work...and I could not sleep.

So what to do? Read of course.

I finished one book and read half the the other one going. On my way back, the finished the second book.

I am still struggling to stay awake as I type ..so no big review is coming. But...

Angelfall: GREAT. I loved that it was so dark and kinda bleak. If anyone read the Bible in any detail they would have known that a bunch of Angels showing up to your world...was bad news. And this was no different. Angels come to Earth..proceed to destroy it, and the people left are struggling to survive and their new reality. Our heroine comes across an injured Angel...and after her sister is taken by some, basically takes him and his chopped off wings prisoner until he can take her to her sister to rescue her. It doesn't end well for them. And after I finished I was more than ready for books 2 and 3. Slow build romance and lots of action.

Orphan Queen: Magic is banned in this Kingdom because it is thought to bring about the Wraith an evil mist like creature that is slowly taking over the land. Our heroine is a Princess of one of these lands, whose parents are not convinced magic is the problem and refuse to sign a treaty banning it....and are subsequently killed and their kingdom taken over. Our heroine is now part of a band of refugees from that Kingdom whose goal it is to take back what they lost and get revenge. A lot more going on...revenge...suspense...adventure...secret identities....some well paced romance....all done very well. Also a book 2 came out recently and I enjoyed installment enough to continue the series.

So yeah...these book were my saviors on the plane. Once I was off the plane and in Italy though....no reading was done. LOL

fantasy young-adult heroine