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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
mysterious
Think of Dr Strange and Mr Norrell, but here part of the impact of Fairyland on Regency England is that it provides a route for the powerful sorceries of south-east Asia to impact on the drawing rooms of London.
Two Malayan sisters are sent on a dangerous journey to attend a magical boarding school in England, a country where magical abilities in women are definitely not the done thing.
Two Malayan sisters are sent on a dangerous journey to attend a magical boarding school in England, a country where magical abilities in women are definitely not the done thing.
As wonderful as the first one! I think i really just love books where the magic and plots are rather sensibly absurd and Zen Cho's writing is the first in a long time to make me so delighted when I'm reading. The bonus is that this book is also sapphic?! (surprised pikachu face). Honestly an absolute delight, a quick but immersive read, think Howl's Moving Castle x Jane Austen.
~2.5 stars
Much more meh than the first novel in the series imo. The book really drags until the last quarter or so. A series of things happening doesn't make a plot; it needs to be cohesive elements that tie together well. Maybe a focus on the fairy world, or a focus on Janda Baik would have worked better, but as it was, the elements just felt scattered and like a list of things happening instead of having cohesive themes, ideas, and messages. The plot itself becomes pretty painfully obvious by a certain point, and all that's left for you to do is bang your head against the wall as the main character sits around being confused.
Furthermore, being confused and an amnesiac isn't exactly interesting character development. I liked Henrietta's little subplot with her family, but it was so randomly scattered in there with like three POV chapters. Maybe if we'd had more consistent Henrietta POVs that tied in thematically with Muna's journey, or otherwise if Cho had had more clear ideas/messages/ a point to her writing it would have been more cohesive.
The biggest strength of the previous novel was the rich world-building that extended around and beyond Regency England (ie. introducing people of colour, magic systems from other countries), and this novel uses the same world, but doesn't add much or have new ideas/themes it transmits using that world.
Much more meh than the first novel in the series imo. The book really drags until the last quarter or so. A series of things happening doesn't make a plot; it needs to be cohesive elements that tie together well. Maybe a focus on the fairy world, or a focus on Janda Baik would have worked better, but as it was, the elements just felt scattered and like a list of things happening instead of having cohesive themes, ideas, and messages. The plot itself becomes pretty painfully obvious by a certain point, and all that's left for you to do is bang your head against the wall as the main character sits around being confused.
Spoiler
Sakti+Muna=Saktimuna girl pls get it togetherFurthermore, being confused and an amnesiac isn't exactly interesting character development. I liked Henrietta's little subplot with her family, but it was so randomly scattered in there with like three POV chapters. Maybe if we'd had more consistent Henrietta POVs that tied in thematically with Muna's journey, or otherwise if Cho had had more clear ideas/messages/ a point to her writing it would have been more cohesive.
The biggest strength of the previous novel was the rich world-building that extended around and beyond Regency England (ie. introducing people of colour, magic systems from other countries), and this novel uses the same world, but doesn't add much or have new ideas/themes it transmits using that world.
Honestly, this book has an Asian (Malaysian, I think) woman heroine and is set in Georgian England with magic and trips to Faerie, so there was very small chance that I would not love it. I like much of Zen Cho’s writing, and this book is great! It is fun and sweet and excellent in bringing in cultural references that enhance the story. I love how the women all have agency over their decisions and their lives, how they weigh their desires against the path that would do the least harm, and how they compromise across cultures and beliefs.
Two sisters are cursed, and with the assistance of their high witch, they set off to England in the hopes of breaking their curses and finding out who the curseworker is. Meanwhile, England have been threatened by the Queen of the Unseen Realm as she believes the Sorceress Royal has stolen the Queen’s prized amulet, that she’s prepared to go to war over. The sisters find themselves in the middle of this magical drama, and attempt to navigate helping England from a potential war, all the while trying to save themselves from their formidable threat: The Great Serpent.
This book was a fantasy filled adventure I really enjoyed. Regrettably, I haven’t read the author's first book in this series, Sorcerer to the Crown, although they can be read independently. I wish I had read the first one, perhaps, for some character context.
I knew from the offset this book was going to be enjoyable, because the writing style was truly captivating. It illustrated a magical atmosphere that completely absorbed me into the plot, the characters and the magical realms created.
The settings in this book were fun. I imagined Janda Baik like a tropical island, and saw England’s Academy for witches as something like an old but adapted cathedral. Then there was the Unseen Realm, where Threlfall’s caves and the tree dungeons were easy and enjoyable to imagine.
I liked the characters in this book, particularly Muna. She was full of wit and moxie, which made her easily likeable. The other characters provided the story with a variety of attitudes and action, that made me as a reader fully engaged, but they also contributed to a satisfying pace, as character interactions was repeatedly used to move the story along.
The family of dragons were one of my favourite parts of this story. The dragon Georgiana was really awesome, as was Rollo, and I think I need a book ASAP on the Threlfall dragon family, because seriously, they have family drama that could definitely be developed into an independent story.
There were two issues with the book that did leave me sort of underwhelmed. Firstly, the inclusion of the Stapleton family. These characters, like Amelia etc., read as totally irrelevant to the central story. Especially during chapters 19 – 21, where the subplot of the Stapleton’s family drama was focused on. Sadly, this subplot felt chore-some to read, as it verged off and detracted from the book’s building climax.
Secondly, by the end of the book, I was disappointed with how the issue of female oppression in the magical world was handled. For the amount of mention of this topic, I would have liked some form of confrontation of the issue, because, whilst some of the female characters rebelled against their oppression, all they did when it was mentioned was more or less roll their eyes. It didn’t need to be anything major, but a witty, snappy and memorable one liner that declared women were quite able to do as they pleased, would have been nice.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read with a plot full of magic and adventure that I read over 6 days. I really, really wanted to rate this 5 stars, but with the benefit of hindsight through writing this review, I must rate it 4 stars, as I found too many issues that left me vexed in my overall feelings about the story. The True Queen is definitely worth a read because I did love it, and I'm already planning on pre-ordering my hardback copy :)
P.s. I REALLY think a story about the Threlfall family would be AWESOME! Fingers crossed this happens, I'll wish on every shooting star!
Blog | Instagram
*This honest review was possible through Netgalley providing me with an ARC from the publisher*
This book was a fantasy filled adventure I really enjoyed. Regrettably, I haven’t read the author's first book in this series, Sorcerer to the Crown, although they can be read independently. I wish I had read the first one, perhaps, for some character context.
I knew from the offset this book was going to be enjoyable, because the writing style was truly captivating. It illustrated a magical atmosphere that completely absorbed me into the plot, the characters and the magical realms created.
The settings in this book were fun. I imagined Janda Baik like a tropical island, and saw England’s Academy for witches as something like an old but adapted cathedral. Then there was the Unseen Realm, where Threlfall’s caves and the tree dungeons were easy and enjoyable to imagine.
I liked the characters in this book, particularly Muna. She was full of wit and moxie, which made her easily likeable. The other characters provided the story with a variety of attitudes and action, that made me as a reader fully engaged, but they also contributed to a satisfying pace, as character interactions was repeatedly used to move the story along.
The family of dragons were one of my favourite parts of this story. The dragon Georgiana was really awesome, as was Rollo, and I think I need a book ASAP on the Threlfall dragon family, because seriously, they have family drama that could definitely be developed into an independent story.
There were two issues with the book that did leave me sort of underwhelmed. Firstly, the inclusion of the Stapleton family. These characters, like Amelia etc., read as totally irrelevant to the central story. Especially during chapters 19 – 21, where the subplot of the Stapleton’s family drama was focused on. Sadly, this subplot felt chore-some to read, as it verged off and detracted from the book’s building climax.
Secondly, by the end of the book, I was disappointed with how the issue of female oppression in the magical world was handled. For the amount of mention of this topic, I would have liked some form of confrontation of the issue, because, whilst some of the female characters rebelled against their oppression, all they did when it was mentioned was more or less roll their eyes. It didn’t need to be anything major, but a witty, snappy and memorable one liner that declared women were quite able to do as they pleased, would have been nice.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read with a plot full of magic and adventure that I read over 6 days. I really, really wanted to rate this 5 stars, but with the benefit of hindsight through writing this review, I must rate it 4 stars, as I found too many issues that left me vexed in my overall feelings about the story. The True Queen is definitely worth a read because I did love it, and I'm already planning on pre-ordering my hardback copy :)
P.s. I REALLY think a story about the Threlfall family would be AWESOME! Fingers crossed this happens, I'll wish on every shooting star!
Blog | Instagram
*This honest review was possible through Netgalley providing me with an ARC from the publisher*
I feel like this book just taps into everything I love: historical romps, romcom tropes, dragons, fun fantasy worldbuilding, excellent comedy, and great female characters. This was as On Brand for me as its prequel and I loved it to bits.
I didn’t like it as much as book 1, but I loved the Own Voice aspects. I loved the conclusion, clever and opens up Cho’s universe. Plus I loved the LGBT relationships
Pre:
Post:
Ah disappointing. Predictable as feta. This bugged me, even if that wasn't meant to be a secret, maybe it should have been. And no, not the biggest fan of the relationships in this one.
Post:
Ah disappointing. Predictable as feta. This bugged me, even if that wasn't meant to be a secret, maybe it should have been. And no, not the biggest fan of the relationships in this one.
I read Sorcerer to the Crown for the first time right before reading this one TBH. The True Queen flows perfectly from it.
I still really fucking love Prunella. Zacharias continues to get better. We see little of them as a honeymoon phase couple, sadly. But what I see, I like.
The romance level is exactly the same: companionship, glances & guesses. Except no one is suggestive or teasing about the w/w couple. Which sucks. I felt cheated out of more in a way absent from the Sorcerer to the Crown.
I love the unique POVs while learning more about Faerie, dragons, and the island.
I didn't see villian coming. I didn’t see the solution to the character’s problems though it was obvious retrospectively. I saw part of the ending coming & I think most would but how it comes about & turns out was all surprise. And getting there was all good.
I'd love more of the series. BUT I'd want more resoluteness & on page romance before the very end. Especially if the couple is marginalized. Why only white ppl & supernatural get to romance on page in fantasy?
I mean, I’ll read them but I won’t be as satisfied even if the other qualities continue to remain the same gold standard.
I still really fucking love Prunella. Zacharias continues to get better. We see little of them as a honeymoon phase couple, sadly. But what I see, I like.
The romance level is exactly the same: companionship, glances & guesses. Except no one is suggestive or teasing about the w/w couple. Which sucks. I felt cheated out of more in a way absent from the Sorcerer to the Crown.
I love the unique POVs while learning more about Faerie, dragons, and the island.
I didn't see villian coming. I didn’t see the solution to the character’s problems though it was obvious retrospectively. I saw part of the ending coming & I think most would but how it comes about & turns out was all surprise. And getting there was all good.
I'd love more of the series. BUT I'd want more resoluteness & on page romance before the very end. Especially if the couple is marginalized. Why only white ppl & supernatural get to romance on page in fantasy?
I mean, I’ll read them but I won’t be as satisfied even if the other qualities continue to remain the same gold standard.