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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
Originally posted on: The Quirky Book Nerd
Queen Song briefly recounts the life of Coriane, queen of Norta, first wife of King Tiberias, and Cal’s mother. We learn of the trials she faced through her younger years—her struggle to find some source of happiness. We are able to get a brief glimpse into her romance with Tibe and the torments that plagued her through the final years of her life. A damaged, desperate, yet inherently brave young woman fighting against demons—both tangible and intangible—Queen Coriane’s story is truly a captivating one.
This ended up being my favorite of the two novellas—in fact, I really wish that this story were a full novel in itself. I would have gladly read many more pages about Coriane’s life, as well as the life of the kingdom itself prior to the events of Red Queen. It is hard to imagine feeling for anyone other than the Reds, but Coriane’s story is surprisingly heart wrenching. This is due primarily to the fact that Aveyard forms her into an extremely kind, relatable figure, despite her slightly elevated standing in society.
Right from the start, Aveyard shows the same vivid and technically proficient writing as she demonstrated in Red Queen. Coriane’s pain is understandable, clearly rendered and fluidly woven into the overall tone and atmosphere of the novella. There is a repetitiveness and childishness to the way she thinks and handles the emotions she faces through the beginning of the story. This at first got on my nerves, but the more I thought, the more I realized how perfectly Aveyard captures the way in which a young girl might confront extreme sadness. As Coriane ages, this repetitive method gives way to a much stronger, more mature one, displaying solid character progression in a short amount of text—not an easy feat.
The biggest complaint I have is not even much of a complaint, per say. I really just want more. I want more details about her early life—more of her relationships with her best friend, brother, and father. I want to see more of her courtship with King Tiberias. Their love story is sweet and beautiful, not only elaborating on their history, but also adding a new dimension to Tiberas’ character. However, it is a comparatively small portion of the novella. The ending is quite rushed—understandably—and though I thoroughly enjoyed this novella, I do wish there was just a bit more to it.
Queen Song briefly recounts the life of Coriane, queen of Norta, first wife of King Tiberias, and Cal’s mother. We learn of the trials she faced through her younger years—her struggle to find some source of happiness. We are able to get a brief glimpse into her romance with Tibe and the torments that plagued her through the final years of her life. A damaged, desperate, yet inherently brave young woman fighting against demons—both tangible and intangible—Queen Coriane’s story is truly a captivating one.
This ended up being my favorite of the two novellas—in fact, I really wish that this story were a full novel in itself. I would have gladly read many more pages about Coriane’s life, as well as the life of the kingdom itself prior to the events of Red Queen. It is hard to imagine feeling for anyone other than the Reds, but Coriane’s story is surprisingly heart wrenching. This is due primarily to the fact that Aveyard forms her into an extremely kind, relatable figure, despite her slightly elevated standing in society.
Right from the start, Aveyard shows the same vivid and technically proficient writing as she demonstrated in Red Queen. Coriane’s pain is understandable, clearly rendered and fluidly woven into the overall tone and atmosphere of the novella. There is a repetitiveness and childishness to the way she thinks and handles the emotions she faces through the beginning of the story. This at first got on my nerves, but the more I thought, the more I realized how perfectly Aveyard captures the way in which a young girl might confront extreme sadness. As Coriane ages, this repetitive method gives way to a much stronger, more mature one, displaying solid character progression in a short amount of text—not an easy feat.
The biggest complaint I have is not even much of a complaint, per say. I really just want more. I want more details about her early life—more of her relationships with her best friend, brother, and father. I want to see more of her courtship with King Tiberias. Their love story is sweet and beautiful, not only elaborating on their history, but also adding a new dimension to Tiberas’ character. However, it is a comparatively small portion of the novella. The ending is quite rushed—understandably—and though I thoroughly enjoyed this novella, I do wish there was just a bit more to it.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I actually do feel bad for Corianne, but most of the story isn't about her courtship honestly. It's mostly about how painful her life is and how belittled she is. I don't think this novella really told the best story for a short amount of pages.
Really disappointing. Not the book itself but the story. This made my heart ache a little.
♡ WHAT I LOVED ♡
> CORIANE & TIBE: there relationship wasn't deeply delved into but i still ship them
> ROBERT, ANABEL & TIBERIAS: can i have a book on their relationship? the dynamic is just so interesting!
❌ WHAT I HATED ❌
> ELARA: do i really even need to go into this? she's been awful from the start!
> NOT ENOUGH DOMESTIC CORIANE & TIBE & CAL
> IT WAS TOO SHORT
♡ WHAT I LOVED ♡
> CORIANE & TIBE: there relationship wasn't deeply delved into but i still ship them
> ROBERT, ANABEL & TIBERIAS: can i have a book on their relationship? the dynamic is just so interesting!
❌ WHAT I HATED ❌
> ELARA: do i really even need to go into this? she's been awful from the start!
> NOT ENOUGH DOMESTIC CORIANE & TIBE & CAL
> IT WAS TOO SHORT
It was great diving into the world of Red Queen before the series began! We learn so much about Corianne in this book, even more than we get to know in the actual series. And of course, one of my favorite characters in the series, Julian! Seeing him as a teenager rather than a grown man really helped me understand why he turned out to be who he was. And we get to see how Julian and Sara's romance began. I also really enjoyed seeing how the Silvers grew up. In the Series, it's portrayed as the Silvers growing up with a silver spoon in their mouths (haha). But we see that they have their own difficulties.
Overall, great addition to the series!
Overall, great addition to the series!
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i hate elara. nothing more
also love how coriane wants better for cal and for the kingdom
also love how coriane wants better for cal and for the kingdom