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i_like_my_shelf's review
3.0
I enjoyed this book-- I really felt myself get wrapped up in the intrigue in Arquitaine. I'm rooting for Vianne and Tristan, so I'm excited to read the next book in the series to see how their story unfolds.
yayforbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I wasn't expecting too much from this book. I got it mainly because it looked like good fantasy with some romance and it was cheap in the iBook store.
The good things about the story were that it was fairly interesting and the Aryx sounded cool. I was held against my will. There were a lot of times when I was rolling my eyes or face palming because of something either Vianne or Tristan did (mostly Vianne) or because their conversations were just silly, but I still somehow wanted to know what happened at the end. The story isn't a brand new story: basically there's been a hostile take-over and some work has to be done to get the rightful heir to the throne back in charge. There's a lot of magic flinging and some sword fighting and a little bit of kissing. The Aryx, a magical artifact of royalty, for some reason was the most exciting part of the story for me, and I wanted to know more about it.
One of the things that I didn't like so much was the random words that were weird (mostly donjon and farrat) because instead of building a stronger world, they just seemed forced. Also, I swear the author referred to a hand as a "paw" in the beginning and I spent the first two chapters wondering if there were cat people in the story. That might just be me. This is a very personal thing that I don't like, so it might not be as much of a problem for others. The world that it is set in seems like a veiled version of historical Europe (Arquitaine sounds a heck of a lot like Acquitaine) and the languages seem to be French derived. I actually liked that part of the writing.
The characters were another weak point. I sort of got tired of Vianne's constant whining that she was the wrong person for the job and that she couldn't do it. And the whole romantic aspect felt a little forced/sudden. Not that the main male lead was boring. He may have been my favorite character (maybe I'm shallow and it's just because he sounds quite handsome). I didn't get a sense of depth to the characters. Vianne was the reluctant heroine who grows in confidence a bit, but is still a tiny bit whiny. Tristan is the intriguing man with a dark side. That was about it. Also, some of the conversations they had just had me rolling my eyes at the corniness. That doesn't mean it was terrible though, just sappy.
Overall, it was an entertaining read. Nothing world-changing. I'm just annoyed at the ending because it means I have to keep reading the series. Which I guess is a good thing. I hope that the characters get a little more depth and a little less oblivious in the second book. And hopefully less sick, because there were a lot of fevers in the first one. A lot of them.
The good things about the story were that it was fairly interesting and the Aryx sounded cool. I was held against my will. There were a lot of times when I was rolling my eyes or face palming because of something either Vianne or Tristan did (mostly Vianne) or because their conversations were just silly, but I still somehow wanted to know what happened at the end. The story isn't a brand new story: basically there's been a hostile take-over and some work has to be done to get the rightful heir to the throne back in charge. There's a lot of magic flinging and some sword fighting and a little bit of kissing. The Aryx, a magical artifact of royalty, for some reason was the most exciting part of the story for me, and I wanted to know more about it.
One of the things that I didn't like so much was the random words that were weird (mostly donjon and farrat) because instead of building a stronger world, they just seemed forced. Also, I swear the author referred to a hand as a "paw" in the beginning and I spent the first two chapters wondering if there were cat people in the story. That might just be me. This is a very personal thing that I don't like, so it might not be as much of a problem for others. The world that it is set in seems like a veiled version of historical Europe (Arquitaine sounds a heck of a lot like Acquitaine) and the languages seem to be French derived. I actually liked that part of the writing.
The characters were another weak point. I sort of got tired of Vianne's constant whining that she was the wrong person for the job and that she couldn't do it. And the whole romantic aspect felt a little forced/sudden. Not that the main male lead was boring. He may have been my favorite character (maybe I'm shallow and it's just because he sounds quite handsome). I didn't get a sense of depth to the characters. Vianne was the reluctant heroine who grows in confidence a bit, but is still a tiny bit whiny. Tristan is the intriguing man with a dark side. That was about it. Also, some of the conversations they had just had me rolling my eyes at the corniness. That doesn't mean it was terrible though, just sappy.
Overall, it was an entertaining read. Nothing world-changing. I'm just annoyed at the ending because it means I have to keep reading the series. Which I guess is a good thing. I hope that the characters get a little more depth and a little less oblivious in the second book. And hopefully less sick, because there were a lot of fevers in the first one. A lot of them.
liliandherbooks's review against another edition
2.0
The story was way too disappointing to warrant more than 2 stars/D+. I honestly thought I would give the overall plot a solid 3 stars because I liked the fantastical world Ms. Saintcrow created but honestly, the ending really killed the book for me. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
myth's review against another edition
4.0
My fluctuating opinions of this book, let me show you them.
On the one hand, I loved it. It had politics (sort of)! And a tough (mostly) believable heroine!
As you can see, it has qualifiers.
The politics were politic-y for the first chapter or two. And then we were just told that politics happened? I don't know, it felt like reading Crown Duel without its (much more interesting) sequel Court Duel. Tristan felt very much like Shevraeth/Vidanric. Vianne felt a lot like Mel without the bad temper.
And then Tristan turned out to be possibly evil. And I may have seen that coming, but more in a 'there are enough hints here for it to happen, and it would make this a much more interesting story if it did' way instead of my usual 'yeah, here's what's going to happen, don't try and be cute with me' way. It's possible that when I read the sequel I will do exactly what I did with Crown Duel upon finishing Court Duel - declare 'THIS IS AWESOME. GIVE ME MORE.' And hopefully Ms Saintcrow will comply, as Sherwood Smith did not see fit to do. You see, the world revolves around my reading taste. I know this for a fact, because I want to read more about white guys saving the world and the Fantasy/Sci-Fi genre has complied! (my sarcasm has hopefully been noted)
If you're confused as to why I seem to be reviewing three-ish books here, let me explain. The Hedgewitch Queen has a lot of potential. A hell of a lot of potential. I wanted this thing like a Hobbit wants elevensies the second I read the description. And I love Lilith Saintcrow's novels, especially Jill Kismet (Steelflower I loved but fell just short of the mark of awesome for reasons I cannot fully articulate. Possibly it's to do with the soulmate principle). Dante Valentine is pretty damn epic, too, and I need to take a gander at her earlier books because WOMEN. BEING WOMEN. AND STABBING THINGS. By which I mean that often authors, male and female, fall short of writing women as I have observed them my entire life, most especially myself. Many times authors think that writing a tough woman involves adding breasts and often upsetting and confusing messages about sexuality (on either side of the spectrum of NOT DOING IT RIGHT) to a man. And I would argue, normally, that I fully believe that a great deal of masculinity and femininity is a product of environment and socialization and all that jazz, but please assume that that argument (and the accompanying one about the marginalization of traditionally feminine traits) (and the one about how most authors write with the same sort of underlying societal structure that means they should deal with that baggage, dammit) has been made at length and in detail for the purposes of trying very hard to get to a point here. Lilith Saintcrow writes women. And gosh golly darn it, I would forgive her a fuckload more than an issue that boils down to me wanting more of something she's written just for that reason.
That paragraph got away from me there. Back to why I was discussing Sherwood Smith in a Lilith Saintcrow review.
Because it was incredibly similar, both in writing style, characters, and... not themes. What's the word I'm looking for here? Maybe structure? At a few points during the reading of this, I looked up and thought to myself, "Hunh, Sherwood Smith did something a little different there" only to remember that no, I was reading Lilith Saintcrow.
And I think that's my real problem with this book. For some, it may not be a problem, especially if you (as I do) like Sherwood Smith. But for me, it was jarring, and confusing, and somewhat irksome. (please excuse any and all fragments in this post; stream of consciousness ends in fragments and humorous or ragey run-ons for me more than I'd like)
ANYWAY. Moving away from the Sherwood Smith comparisons.
I loved that Vianne never forgot her Princesse. I loved that she was motivated more by her duty and love of a friend in the end than she was by her love interest. I loved that that love interest was mostly supportive in the end, and I loved even more that Vianne learned that she could live without that support if she needed to. I loved that she didn't want to. I loved Rhisaine, whose name I am probably butchering. I loved the Baroness (no, not THAT one). I loved, loved, LOVED that Ms Saintcrow seems to be going in the crazed love/obsession direction with Tristan, and I sincerely hope that if she really is it does not get watered down or made okay in the end. I loved more than that that Vianne came into her own on her own, and that she didn't fall into it but decided to do so.
4/5, for women who do stuff, more women who do stuff, interesting plot and character twists, and women who love other women. It will probably be made higher when the second one comes out.
Note from the present (but the future at the time this (older) review was written): It was not made higher. I am very upset.
On the one hand, I loved it. It had politics (sort of)! And a tough (mostly) believable heroine!
As you can see, it has qualifiers.
The politics were politic-y for the first chapter or two. And then we were just told that politics happened? I don't know, it felt like reading Crown Duel without its (much more interesting) sequel Court Duel. Tristan felt very much like Shevraeth/Vidanric. Vianne felt a lot like Mel without the bad temper.
And then Tristan turned out to be possibly evil. And I may have seen that coming, but more in a 'there are enough hints here for it to happen, and it would make this a much more interesting story if it did' way instead of my usual 'yeah, here's what's going to happen, don't try and be cute with me' way. It's possible that when I read the sequel I will do exactly what I did with Crown Duel upon finishing Court Duel - declare 'THIS IS AWESOME. GIVE ME MORE.' And hopefully Ms Saintcrow will comply, as Sherwood Smith did not see fit to do. You see, the world revolves around my reading taste. I know this for a fact, because I want to read more about white guys saving the world and the Fantasy/Sci-Fi genre has complied! (my sarcasm has hopefully been noted)
If you're confused as to why I seem to be reviewing three-ish books here, let me explain. The Hedgewitch Queen has a lot of potential. A hell of a lot of potential. I wanted this thing like a Hobbit wants elevensies the second I read the description. And I love Lilith Saintcrow's novels, especially Jill Kismet (Steelflower I loved but fell just short of the mark of awesome for reasons I cannot fully articulate. Possibly it's to do with the soulmate principle). Dante Valentine is pretty damn epic, too, and I need to take a gander at her earlier books because WOMEN. BEING WOMEN. AND STABBING THINGS. By which I mean that often authors, male and female, fall short of writing women as I have observed them my entire life, most especially myself. Many times authors think that writing a tough woman involves adding breasts and often upsetting and confusing messages about sexuality (on either side of the spectrum of NOT DOING IT RIGHT) to a man. And I would argue, normally, that I fully believe that a great deal of masculinity and femininity is a product of environment and socialization and all that jazz, but please assume that that argument (and the accompanying one about the marginalization of traditionally feminine traits) (and the one about how most authors write with the same sort of underlying societal structure that means they should deal with that baggage, dammit) has been made at length and in detail for the purposes of trying very hard to get to a point here. Lilith Saintcrow writes women. And gosh golly darn it, I would forgive her a fuckload more than an issue that boils down to me wanting more of something she's written just for that reason.
That paragraph got away from me there. Back to why I was discussing Sherwood Smith in a Lilith Saintcrow review.
Because it was incredibly similar, both in writing style, characters, and... not themes. What's the word I'm looking for here? Maybe structure? At a few points during the reading of this, I looked up and thought to myself, "Hunh, Sherwood Smith did something a little different there" only to remember that no, I was reading Lilith Saintcrow.
And I think that's my real problem with this book. For some, it may not be a problem, especially if you (as I do) like Sherwood Smith. But for me, it was jarring, and confusing, and somewhat irksome. (please excuse any and all fragments in this post; stream of consciousness ends in fragments and humorous or ragey run-ons for me more than I'd like)
ANYWAY. Moving away from the Sherwood Smith comparisons.
I loved that Vianne never forgot her Princesse. I loved that she was motivated more by her duty and love of a friend in the end than she was by her love interest. I loved that that love interest was mostly supportive in the end, and I loved even more that Vianne learned that she could live without that support if she needed to. I loved that she didn't want to. I loved Rhisaine, whose name I am probably butchering. I loved the Baroness (no, not THAT one). I loved, loved, LOVED that Ms Saintcrow seems to be going in the crazed love/obsession direction with Tristan, and I sincerely hope that if she really is it does not get watered down or made okay in the end. I loved more than that that Vianne came into her own on her own, and that she didn't fall into it but decided to do so.
4/5, for women who do stuff, more women who do stuff, interesting plot and character twists, and women who love other women. It will probably be made higher when the second one comes out.
Note from the present (but the future at the time this (older) review was written): It was not made higher. I am very upset.
cana's review against another edition
1.0
Honestly, I gave up not-quite-halfway through. Nothing was happening, I didn't care, I couldn't get in to it. This one just didn't work for me.
firesoulbird's review against another edition
1.0
Vianne...you know, it took me until I was almost finished with this book to realize who she reminded me of. That person? Bella Swan. That should tell you everything right there. Ok, she has slightly more of a backbone, but still. Vianne starts out perfectly fine - she escapes treachery and murder using her wits. However, she then proceeds to throw out her brain and become quite the moron for the rest of the book. The following is an actual scene from early on in this novel:
Vianne: *wanders off alone into the bandit-filled woods*
Bandit: Hi there! We're going to rape you!
Knights/bodyguards: *show up* Die, bandits!
Vianne: No, don't kill them! They don't mean any harm!
Of course since Tristan, the Captain of the King's Guard and love interest, is not entirely an idiot, he has them killed anyway.
The prose is so obnoxiously purple. Plus this is some sort of AU France. That's fine in itself, except that there's bastardized French every other word, and it's awful. There are apostrophes everywhere.
Since I have the second book already, I'll have to read it. Sigh.
Vianne: *wanders off alone into the bandit-filled woods*
Bandit: Hi there! We're going to rape you!
Knights/bodyguards: *show up* Die, bandits!
Vianne: No, don't kill them! They don't mean any harm!
Of course since Tristan, the Captain of the King's Guard and love interest, is not entirely an idiot, he has them killed anyway.
The prose is so obnoxiously purple. Plus this is some sort of AU France. That's fine in itself, except that there's bastardized French every other word, and it's awful. There are apostrophes everywhere.
Since I have the second book already, I'll have to read it. Sigh.
sb1119's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
trinforeman's review
5.0
Have you ever had that one novel that takes you forever to read, not because its bad, but because it is so good you want to savor it? This was that book for me. I have been a Saintcrow fan for a while now but this was one of her best I believe. And what a cliffhanger!!!
I would recommend this to anyone who likes time pieces, such as Graceling or for anyone looking for a bit of magic.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes time pieces, such as Graceling or for anyone looking for a bit of magic.