Reviews - Queen Amid Ashes

376 reviews for:

Queen Amid Ashes

Christopher Ruocchio

3.96 AVERAGE

theknightradiant's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

To start with the cons: the overall theme of this book is a tired trope of “humanity is just as if not more monstrous than the monsters in the book” which feels over used and obvious as the “twist” becomes very predictable. And as for the second con, for gods sake how many times can the author say “ howling dark” unironically to describe death in one book. As if he stroke his own ego by mentioning the title of book 2 over and over again. now for the positives: this book adds such a dark side to the cielcin that truly turns them from an enemy to a villain of humanity. The battles are just as bombastic. The characters are very melodramatic. And this overall becomes a great book to read. I just wish it offered more like previous installments did.

sadiekindarocks's review against another edition

4.0

God I miss Valka

maryk_reimer's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

gordybombay's review against another edition

4.0

fast-paced

A nice story that bridges Hadrian's time between books 2 and 3. Flashes out some of the references in Demon in White. Some of the things that the "queen" says to Hadrian felt a little too on the nose, but overall an enjoyable entry to the series

outatime85's review against another edition

4.25

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

jackodent's review against another edition

3.5

dark reflective tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

_riggs's review

4.0

I've now read two regular novels and two novellas by Ruocchio and I think that I enjoy his novellas more. To me, Ruocchio is a much better writer in a more limited and self-contained story. I thoroughly enjoyed Queen Amid Ashes. This books lacks any huge plot and if you're looking for a traditional story curve I think you'll find it lacking- but what it does I think it excels in. It shows a newly knighted Hadrian arriving to save a planet besieged by the Cielcin and it shows him interacting with his crew (new and existing) and the planet's nobles in that context (ambiguous to avoid spoilers.) Since Ruocchio likes to do a lot of stuff off-screen. It's nice to read a story that very easily could have been relegated to a brief mention in Demon in White. I'm excited to read the next entry in Suneater.