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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
This was a delightful read; gently funny, and with vividly-drawn characters. I think this definitely takes the record for having the most entertaining conversation about who deserves to be eaten by a dragon I think I've ever read. It does leave me with an unrequited wish, though... I need to go and find some fanfic about Granny Weatherwax and Mak Genggang meeting and having a conversation about young witches of today...
This one is a bit more serious than the first volume, which is not a good trend. The two sisters have a secret that reminds of a bad '80s movie I once saw and it's revealed a bit early. I do find it amusing that Lord Hobday thinks a mindless simulacrum will make a good wife, that's one of the Regency jokes that made the previous novel funny. Still it's a decent read, but bordering on tedious.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I won a free ARC of this from a Berkley Pub sweepstakes, which was very nice of them, although it was strange to receive an uncorrected proof a week or two after the finished book had already come out. I do not know the extent to which the final book differs from the ARC, but I hope to glob it got its apostrophe issues under control.
I entered the drawing because I loved [b:Sorcerer to the Crown|23943137|Sorcerer to the Crown (Sorcerer Royal, #1)|Zen Cho|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1430239646s/23943137.jpg|43548024] and have languished four years waiting for the sequel, though I now wish I had used some of that time rereading it, due to my quick discovery that I had forgotten a lot of that book's details and minor characters. I made do without (this book has a new and foreign protagonist, which helps), but what I did remember very well was SttC's easy, immediate charm, and that I missed. Prunella seems much toned down now that she has what she wanted, Zacharias is nearly absent, and our new protag Muna is a) well-behaved b) bummed out and c) somewhat isolated, leaving few opportunities for clever, hilarious frisson. It's nearly 200 pages before we reach the stage of comical hijinks and reliably interesting character interactions, and although that came as a diverting enough relief, it never swept me away.
Part of the problem may have been how thoroughly telegraphed most major plot points ended up. I rarely see the appeal of dramatic irony-heavy entertainment, and that's not exactly what this is, but it comes close. It's like, duh??? This telegraphing did not, however, extend to the romance, which is my other big problem. I would like, when reading a romance, to at least know what the eventual pairing will be, and maybe have a slight indication that the POV character is attracted to their love interest. Yet more than halfway through the book, I was still wondering what to make of the reputed lesbian romance. The pairing was obvious, but only due to spatial limitations within the story -- Muna never seems any more interested in Henrietta than any other character, nor does she have current or past inklings of gayness, or even a reaction to the same-sex relationship that is highlighted to her earlier on in the book. At one point she assumes that the English practice polygamy because that is what she is used to. This, and the fact that she is Muslim enough to avoid pork and wine, are the only indications of Muna having any sort of cultural or religious biases at all. Disappointingly, her religious background does not come up aftershe finds out she's not human , so I guess nothing means anything if you don't want it toooo. Anyway: not only does she never seem into Henrietta, but her apparent realization that she is happens offscreen, because in the first, last, and only moment of overt romance, Muna is no longer the POV. Cool. Ultimately, I cannot scruple to call this book a lesbian romance. It is a book with a lesbian kiss on the last page.
I very much enjoy Rollo and Damerell (and Georgiana) tho. Maybe the next book could be about THOSE confirmed and actually gay gays?
I entered the drawing because I loved [b:Sorcerer to the Crown|23943137|Sorcerer to the Crown (Sorcerer Royal, #1)|Zen Cho|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1430239646s/23943137.jpg|43548024] and have languished four years waiting for the sequel, though I now wish I had used some of that time rereading it, due to my quick discovery that I had forgotten a lot of that book's details and minor characters. I made do without (this book has a new and foreign protagonist, which helps), but what I did remember very well was SttC's easy, immediate charm, and that I missed. Prunella seems much toned down now that she has what she wanted, Zacharias is nearly absent, and our new protag Muna is a) well-behaved b) bummed out and c) somewhat isolated, leaving few opportunities for clever, hilarious frisson. It's nearly 200 pages before we reach the stage of comical hijinks and reliably interesting character interactions, and although that came as a diverting enough relief, it never swept me away.
Part of the problem may have been how thoroughly telegraphed most major plot points ended up. I rarely see the appeal of dramatic irony-heavy entertainment, and that's not exactly what this is, but it comes close. It's like, duh??? This telegraphing did not, however, extend to the romance, which is my other big problem. I would like, when reading a romance, to at least know what the eventual pairing will be, and maybe have a slight indication that the POV character is attracted to their love interest. Yet more than halfway through the book, I was still wondering what to make of the reputed lesbian romance. The pairing was obvious, but only due to spatial limitations within the story -- Muna never seems any more interested in Henrietta than any other character, nor does she have current or past inklings of gayness, or even a reaction to the same-sex relationship that is highlighted to her earlier on in the book. At one point she assumes that the English practice polygamy because that is what she is used to. This, and the fact that she is Muslim enough to avoid pork and wine, are the only indications of Muna having any sort of cultural or religious biases at all. Disappointingly, her religious background does not come up after
I very much enjoy Rollo and Damerell (and Georgiana) tho. Maybe the next book could be about THOSE confirmed and actually gay gays?
The True Queen by Zen Cho is set after the events of Sorcerer to the Crown, but is not a direct sequel since it follows a different group of characters. I enjoyed Sorcerer to the Crown and generally recommend starting there to get a delightful introduction to the world, but if you can't get your hands on it, I don't see a problem with starting with The True Queen (especially if you don't mind being spoiled for the end state of Sorcerer to the Crown).
This was an excellent read. I had put off starting it for a little while because I wanted to finish other books I was part way through first. But (eventually) putting them aside and starting The True Queen was an excellent decision. I remember enjoying Sorcerer to the Crown very much when I read it, but that was a few years ago and in audiobook form, so my memory of it was hazier than I would have liked. I need not have worried, though since The True Queen follows a new character and gives us a good grounding in the world — and the Malaysian side of the world, at that — before introducing us to most of the recurring characters.
Muna starts off the book with no memory of who she is or why she washed up on a beach. She and her sister are taken in by a powerful local witch and, when little progress is made in curing them of the mysterious curse, they are sent to England to find out more. That's where things go wrong and also where the main connection to the earlier book lies.
I really enjoyed The True Queen. It made me laugh with its incidental humour and told an intriguing story which was captivating even though we, the reader, were given more than enough information to make connections that the protagonist overlooked for perfectly understandable reasons. And through the second most prominent character, Henrietta, we got a closer look at English society, the ways in which Prunella — the first Sorceress Royal — had changed society and the ways in which she hadn't.
I highly recommend The True Queen to anyone who enjoys fantasy with a dollop of humour or regcency-ish settings or Malaysian settings, for that matter. I continue to adore Zen Cho's writing (have you read her short stories?) and I will avidly read anything else of hers that I come across.
5 / 5 stars
You can read more of my reviews on my blog.
This was an excellent read. I had put off starting it for a little while because I wanted to finish other books I was part way through first. But (eventually) putting them aside and starting The True Queen was an excellent decision. I remember enjoying Sorcerer to the Crown very much when I read it, but that was a few years ago and in audiobook form, so my memory of it was hazier than I would have liked. I need not have worried, though since The True Queen follows a new character and gives us a good grounding in the world — and the Malaysian side of the world, at that — before introducing us to most of the recurring characters.
Muna starts off the book with no memory of who she is or why she washed up on a beach. She and her sister are taken in by a powerful local witch and, when little progress is made in curing them of the mysterious curse, they are sent to England to find out more. That's where things go wrong and also where the main connection to the earlier book lies.
I really enjoyed The True Queen. It made me laugh with its incidental humour and told an intriguing story which was captivating even though we, the reader, were given more than enough information to make connections that the protagonist overlooked for perfectly understandable reasons. And through the second most prominent character, Henrietta, we got a closer look at English society, the ways in which Prunella — the first Sorceress Royal — had changed society and the ways in which she hadn't.
I highly recommend The True Queen to anyone who enjoys fantasy with a dollop of humour or regcency-ish settings or Malaysian settings, for that matter. I continue to adore Zen Cho's writing (have you read her short stories?) and I will avidly read anything else of hers that I come across.
5 / 5 stars
You can read more of my reviews on my blog.
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.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review
A worthy sequel to Sorcerer to the Crown. Just a warning Prunella and Zacharias do make an appearance but in a very limited capacity, which actually bodes well for the story. Instead, this novel opens with two sisters, Muna and Sakti, washing up on the sores of Janda Baik with no memory of who they are. To make matters worse, Sakti seems to be under the effects of a curse and her body slowly disappears. Muna on the other hand possesses no powers. Mak Genggang, the witch of the island, decides to send the two sisters to the Royal Sorceress, who since the last novel has established an academy to teach thaumaturgy to women. However on route to the academy, Sakti and Muna are separated and Muna is forced to venture into England alone.
This wouldn't be a problem except that Muna has no magical capabilities to speak of. Unable to contact Mak Genggang, Muna desperate to find her sister pretends to have magical abilities. Of course this deception would have been discovered if it wasn't for the Queen of Fairy, who stirs up some trouble by threatening to kill all the magic users in England. Unfortunately, someone stole an important amulet and the queen believes that an English magician is the culprit. As the story progresses, Muna realizes that the amulet and the disappearance of Muna's sister are more closely tied together than she originally thought. So, she must track down this amulet, pretend to wield magic and uncover a forgotten secret.
Like the first book, I think this novel illustrates Colonial England in way that is subtle but also powerful. Muna and Sakti are both Malaysian and this of course means that Muna is often viewed as exotic in England. For example, Henrietta's mother is immediately fascinated with a foreign sorceress and wants to touch/introduce her to all of society. These type of situations perfectly illustrate how seemingly innocuous behavior is still an issue. My only complaint is that these types of incidents/behaviors could have featured more prominently and perhaps been commented on. Lastly, the ending of this book sealed it's four star rating. The romance that ensues is absolutely expected and unexpected in an adorably hilarious way. As usual, I cannot wait to see what the third book holds.
A worthy sequel to Sorcerer to the Crown. Just a warning Prunella and Zacharias do make an appearance but in a very limited capacity, which actually bodes well for the story. Instead, this novel opens with two sisters, Muna and Sakti, washing up on the sores of Janda Baik with no memory of who they are. To make matters worse, Sakti seems to be under the effects of a curse and her body slowly disappears. Muna on the other hand possesses no powers. Mak Genggang, the witch of the island, decides to send the two sisters to the Royal Sorceress, who since the last novel has established an academy to teach thaumaturgy to women. However on route to the academy, Sakti and Muna are separated and Muna is forced to venture into England alone.
This wouldn't be a problem except that Muna has no magical capabilities to speak of. Unable to contact Mak Genggang, Muna desperate to find her sister pretends to have magical abilities. Of course this deception would have been discovered if it wasn't for the Queen of Fairy, who stirs up some trouble by threatening to kill all the magic users in England. Unfortunately, someone stole an important amulet and the queen believes that an English magician is the culprit. As the story progresses, Muna realizes that the amulet and the disappearance of Muna's sister are more closely tied together than she originally thought. So, she must track down this amulet, pretend to wield magic and uncover a forgotten secret.
Like the first book, I think this novel illustrates Colonial England in way that is subtle but also powerful. Muna and Sakti are both Malaysian and this of course means that Muna is often viewed as exotic in England. For example, Henrietta's mother is immediately fascinated with a foreign sorceress and wants to touch/introduce her to all of society. These type of situations perfectly illustrate how seemingly innocuous behavior is still an issue. My only complaint is that these types of incidents/behaviors could have featured more prominently and perhaps been commented on. Lastly, the ending of this book sealed it's four star rating. The romance that ensues is absolutely expected and unexpected in an adorably hilarious way. As usual, I cannot wait to see what the third book holds.
In a reversal from the previous book, I had a really hard time getting through the first half, which had a similar level of good worldbuilding, but very much trudged through; while the second half picks up and gets entertaining. I also overall preferred the main character in this one, even if she was exasperatingly passive in the face of her sister's self-importance. The ending was also better built and more satisfying than the first book's.
I will say that this book often felt like it was written for children in the supposedly clever interactions between enemies; I am unsure how to explain this impression, but when deception was involved, for example, with Barty, I felt like the cleverness of it was overstated in the same way a children's book would to let the reader see through it while the supposedly intelligent adult character doesn't. This book allowed me to realize this and name it, though it was also something that bothered me in the first one.
I will say that this book often felt like it was written for children in the supposedly clever interactions between enemies; I am unsure how to explain this impression, but when deception was involved, for example, with Barty, I felt like the cleverness of it was overstated in the same way a children's book would to let the reader see through it while the supposedly intelligent adult character doesn't. This book allowed me to realize this and name it, though it was also something that bothered me in the first one.
The book is a sequel, but you could read this without having read the first one since the main POV from the first book is barely in this one. Two sisters, one with magic and the other without travel to England from Janda Baik. They have no memory of their past but with a knowledge of languages they must have been the children of someone important. The sisters are trying to figure out who cursed them, and the trail leads to England. While traveling through Fairy to get there quickly the sisters are separated. Muna arrives in England at the school of the Sorceress Royal and pretends to have the magic that Sakti has. English society doesn’t approve of women using magic especially high-born ones and this causes no end of friction that Prunella is in charge of all the Sorcerers in the land. Muna wants to get her sister back from Fairy and Fairy wants to go to war with England over a missing magical amulet. Everything braids together by the last part of the book and works out well for everyone.
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes