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asunnybooknook's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 ⭐️ this is a highly underrated queer sapphic fantasy novel wtf I love it!!!! Zen Cho I love ur writing
catmeghum's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved Zen Cho’s Sorcerer to the Crown when I read it a couple of years ago, so I was utterly delighted to hear there was a sequel on the way – and even more thrilled when I was approved for a proof copy from the publishers!
It’s been a little while since I read Sorcerer to the Crown, so I was worried I’d struggle to get back into it, but this is a book that starts off far away from the Sorceress Royal and her husband, so by the time I encountered anyone terribly familiar I was used to the world once more.
The characters at the heart of this book are almost all young women – I didn’t even realise until afterwards, but it’s incredibly entertaining and delightful to read a book and realise that the only men in it are fairly peripheral characters, or dragons. I did really love Zacharias Wythe in Sorcerer to the Crown so it was good to see him back, but he definitely played second fiddle to the inimitable Prunella, Sorceress Royal and professional scandal-maker. Of course, we all should have known that things weren’t going to be resolved by Prunella’s rise to the Sorceress Royal position, and this book deals somewhat with the aftermath. It also features a return of the wonderful Mak Genggang, Rollo Threlfall and Poggs, and plenty of other characters who fans of the previous book will recognise.
I don’t want to spoil too much, but suffice to say that this book explores much more of the world than Sorcerer to the Crown did, starting off on the other side of the world (in the Malay Archipelago) and heavily concerned with the lands of Fairy. There’s a lovely Regency-esque romance (you know, where it’s all very understated until the last minute), some excellent mysteries to unravel, and a lot of fun. Between Prunella, Mak Genggang, and some fantastic new characters, how could it not be?
It’s been a little while since I read Sorcerer to the Crown, so I was worried I’d struggle to get back into it, but this is a book that starts off far away from the Sorceress Royal and her husband, so by the time I encountered anyone terribly familiar I was used to the world once more.
The characters at the heart of this book are almost all young women – I didn’t even realise until afterwards, but it’s incredibly entertaining and delightful to read a book and realise that the only men in it are fairly peripheral characters, or dragons. I did really love Zacharias Wythe in Sorcerer to the Crown so it was good to see him back, but he definitely played second fiddle to the inimitable Prunella, Sorceress Royal and professional scandal-maker. Of course, we all should have known that things weren’t going to be resolved by Prunella’s rise to the Sorceress Royal position, and this book deals somewhat with the aftermath. It also features a return of the wonderful Mak Genggang, Rollo Threlfall and Poggs, and plenty of other characters who fans of the previous book will recognise.
I don’t want to spoil too much, but suffice to say that this book explores much more of the world than Sorcerer to the Crown did, starting off on the other side of the world (in the Malay Archipelago) and heavily concerned with the lands of Fairy. There’s a lovely Regency-esque romance (you know, where it’s all very understated until the last minute), some excellent mysteries to unravel, and a lot of fun. Between Prunella, Mak Genggang, and some fantastic new characters, how could it not be?
l1nds's review against another edition
3.0
The star rating has been dragged down by the weight of my own expectations - I loved Sorcerer to the Crown so much and sadly this one can't hold a candle to it. I don't know if it was the characters or the storytelling but I just didn't get swept up in the story this time. The big reveal was so obvious it was frustrating waiting for it to happen while everyone remained clueless, and the f/f relationship I've seen people getting misty eyed over was extremely 'blink and you'll miss it'. If there's a third book I'll give it a go, but I'll definitely wait for the paperback that time!
bookishgoblin's review against another edition
5.0
It's surprising but I enjoyed this book even more than the first, the characters seemed more relateable and less sort of all powerful and perfect.
lavisgate's review against another edition
I kept trying because I love the author's other books... but the writing style of this just isn't for me. It's too stuffy to read with my eyes and I don't enjoy the narrator's performance so audio is out too.
flajol's review against another edition
4.0
More Regency shenanigans from Zen Cho - such fun, with a healthy dollop of social commentary.
In The True Queen, Cho takes us back to Janda Baik where a pair of sisters have washed up on the island's shore. They have no memory, and no identity beyond their names: Muna and Sakti. Sakti soon shows a strong magical talent, while Muna is happy to work in Mak Genggang's kitchens. However, the girls soon manage to get into hot water, and Mak Genggang sends them to Britain to seek aid and shelter from the Sorceress Royal.
When I started reading I was a bit disappointed that we weren't carrying on with Prunella, but that didn't last long. Muna is fabulous, and I loved how her story unfolded.
In The True Queen, Cho takes us back to Janda Baik where a pair of sisters have washed up on the island's shore. They have no memory, and no identity beyond their names: Muna and Sakti. Sakti soon shows a strong magical talent, while Muna is happy to work in Mak Genggang's kitchens. However, the girls soon manage to get into hot water, and Mak Genggang sends them to Britain to seek aid and shelter from the Sorceress Royal.
When I started reading I was a bit disappointed that we weren't carrying on with Prunella, but that didn't last long. Muna is fabulous, and I loved how her story unfolded.
waclements7's review against another edition
I hate to DNF the second book I’ve read this year, but this just really isn’t working for me. DNF @52%
booksandladders's review against another edition
4.0
See this review and more on Books and Ladders!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and chose to review it. This in no way impacts my opinion.
The sequel to the ah-mazing SORCERER TO THE CROWN, THE TRUE QUEEN has magic, mayhem, and strong female characters that you root for the whole way through. I loved seeing the old characters, meeting new ones, and being introduced to more magic in this than we previously saw. Cho has created a masterpiece of Fantasy and I hope you pick it up. The best part? If you haven't read SORCERER TO THE CROWN, you can still read this! There is enough explanation to get you through some aspects.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and chose to review it. This in no way impacts my opinion.
The sequel to the ah-mazing SORCERER TO THE CROWN, THE TRUE QUEEN has magic, mayhem, and strong female characters that you root for the whole way through. I loved seeing the old characters, meeting new ones, and being introduced to more magic in this than we previously saw. Cho has created a masterpiece of Fantasy and I hope you pick it up. The best part? If you haven't read SORCERER TO THE CROWN, you can still read this! There is enough explanation to get you through some aspects.
chillvamp's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this one! I think it had a younger feeling to it than I was anticipating (or else I missed Muna's age and assumed she was a teenager) and there were no great surprises, but seeing the ending develop was very enjoyable, and I liked all the characters a lot. The polong was the best, though. This was a fun read!