Scan barcode
bookswithjk's review
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
While lush and vivid in its prose and worldbuilding, I was a bit disappointed at how pushed back the women in this book were. The title of the book is “A Dark Queen Rises”, and yet we spend a long time focusing on male violence and male conquests. I had to skim pages of Tyrak’s fights at the end of the book because I wanted to see more of Krushni.
I am still looking forward to the finale though (is it true this series was changed from 10/12 books to just three books?!). I’d love to see the princess from the first book meet up with the dark queen. Based on the title, I will assume they are!
I am still looking forward to the finale though (is it true this series was changed from 10/12 books to just three books?!). I’d love to see the princess from the first book meet up with the dark queen. Based on the title, I will assume they are!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Murder, and Genocide
Minor: Animal death and Animal cruelty
humanpuke's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The story is still interesting, and I liked seeing more of Jarsun and his evil machinations but man the battle/action scenes really pulled me out of the story.
Each battle/conquest was the most EVIL the most CRAZY the most UNSTOPPABLE force of evil to ever evil to the point that it felt cartoonish. We were supposed to be scared for the protagonists in each encounter but it just felt overwritten and it removed all the tension.
There were so many confrontations that I was never worried about Krushita or any of the other main characters. It just felt repetitive.
I love the world and the characters are interesting. The battle scenes were just a big miss for me and this book has a lot of battle scenes.
Each battle/conquest was the most EVIL the most CRAZY the most UNSTOPPABLE force of evil to ever evil to the point that it felt cartoonish. We were supposed to be scared for the protagonists in each encounter but it just felt overwritten and it removed all the tension.
There were so many confrontations that I was never worried about Krushita or any of the other main characters. It just felt repetitive.
I love the world and the characters are interesting. The battle scenes were just a big miss for me and this book has a lot of battle scenes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, Gore, Murder, and Death
kylieqrada's review
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5 ⭐s. This was, dare I say it, even better than the first one. And no fatphobia?!?!? You go, Glen Coco!!!! I'm v excited to finish out the trilogy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child death, and Murder
Minor: Domestic abuse, Rape, and Slavery
catapocalypse's review
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I greatly enjoyed the first book, but unfortunately this one dragged a bit for me.
This is the second installment in Banker's Burnt Empire saga, and actually takes place concurrently with the events of the first book. We see this timeline from perspectives in the lands Jarsun is building into his Reygistan Empire, where the Burnt Empire of Hastinaga is only a distant power. Most of the narrative is dedicated to the perspectives of Jarsun's wife Aqreen and daughter Krushita as they flee from him, as well as the perspective of Tyrak, a boorish crown-prince who inherits a monstrous legacy.
The title and commonly posted blurbs/synopses imply that the main focus is on Krushita, but Tyrak's portions take up at least half of the book. Unfortunately, I didn't find him very enjoyable. He's not poorly written; the fragile ego of an insecure and often ignorant man causing anger issues, violence, and oppression is very realistic. Maybe too realistic, because with so many real life issues originating from such people, spending so much time with a fictional one was not appealing to me. I'd hoped for much more time with Krushita and Aqreen.
Still, it was interesting to see what was going on in Mraashk, Reygar, etc. during the events of the first book. And hearing interesting perspectives about the Krushan from those far removed from the Burnt Empire itself. Though I didn't enjoy all the time with Tyrak, it wasn't a bad book, and I do look forward to the next in the series.
This is the second installment in Banker's Burnt Empire saga, and actually takes place concurrently with the events of the first book. We see this timeline from perspectives in the lands Jarsun is building into his Reygistan Empire, where the Burnt Empire of Hastinaga is only a distant power. Most of the narrative is dedicated to the perspectives of Jarsun's wife Aqreen and daughter Krushita as they flee from him, as well as the perspective of Tyrak, a boorish crown-prince who inherits a monstrous legacy.
The title and commonly posted blurbs/synopses imply that the main focus is on Krushita, but Tyrak's portions take up at least half of the book. Unfortunately, I didn't find him very enjoyable. He's not poorly written; the fragile ego of an insecure and often ignorant man causing anger issues, violence, and oppression is very realistic. Maybe too realistic, because with so many real life issues originating from such people, spending so much time with a fictional one was not appealing to me. I'd hoped for much more time with Krushita and Aqreen.
Still, it was interesting to see what was going on in Mraashk, Reygar, etc. during the events of the first book. And hearing interesting perspectives about the Krushan from those far removed from the Burnt Empire itself. Though I didn't enjoy all the time with Tyrak, it wasn't a bad book, and I do look forward to the next in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Animal death, Murder, Body horror, Blood, and Gore
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Slavery, Trafficking, Vomit, Domestic abuse, and Rape
madarauchiha's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 my about / byf / CW info carrd: uchiha-madara 💜 💙 💚 💛 🧡 ❤️
It took three hours to finish, but felt more like four and a half. Incredibly long, kind lagged in some places, very entertaining, graphic but in an over the top horror movie eay. The pace was pretty slow but it's more because there is a huge cast to it. I was grossed out by the breastfeeding fetish(?) thing. You can absolutely tell a cis man wrote this lol
I was a little disappointed that the main characters from from first book didnt feature too much. I had expected a straight continuation. It's not a bad thing that it wasn't. I'd rather the story move on rather than linger especially because if the slow pacing. don't expect a conclusion. This is at least a three parter, as far as I can tell.
At times it did feel a little cheesy and like a b movie? I chalk it up to Bollywood flavored storytelling. It did make me skip a few scenes, like the Colosseum, just because I wanted to know what was happening with other characters.
I am interested in seeing how this concludes, but I'll wait until I know the series is finished before diving back in.
Content warnings:
minor: slavery, animal stillbirth, sexual violence, rape, domestic abuse, poisons, child death, death,
medium: animal death, body horror, child death, death, disease, drugs, insects, marital infidelity, murder, paranoia, parasites, self harm, sexual harassment, sexual violence, snakes, unsanitary
major: ageism, animal cruelty, animal death, arson, body horror, breastfeeding, cannibalism, casteism, child abuse, child death, child soldiers, colonization, confinement, death, demolition, domestic abuse, elder abuse, fire, genocide, gore, house fires, misogyny, murder, prisons, torture, unreality, unsanitary, violence, wars
It took three hours to finish, but felt more like four and a half. Incredibly long, kind lagged in some places, very entertaining, graphic but in an over the top horror movie eay. The pace was pretty slow but it's more because there is a huge cast to it. I was grossed out by the breastfeeding fetish(?) thing. You can absolutely tell a cis man wrote this lol
I was a little disappointed that the main characters from from first book didnt feature too much. I had expected a straight continuation. It's not a bad thing that it wasn't. I'd rather the story move on rather than linger especially because if the slow pacing. don't expect a conclusion. This is at least a three parter, as far as I can tell.
At times it did feel a little cheesy and like a b movie? I chalk it up to Bollywood flavored storytelling. It did make me skip a few scenes, like the Colosseum, just because I wanted to know what was happening with other characters.
I am interested in seeing how this concludes, but I'll wait until I know the series is finished before diving back in.
Content warnings:
minor: slavery, animal stillbirth, sexual violence, rape, domestic abuse, poisons, child death, death,
medium: animal death, body horror, child death, death, disease, drugs, insects, marital infidelity, murder, paranoia, parasites, self harm, sexual harassment, sexual violence, snakes, unsanitary
major: ageism, animal cruelty, animal death, arson, body horror, breastfeeding, cannibalism, casteism, child abuse, child death, child soldiers, colonization, confinement, death, demolition, domestic abuse, elder abuse, fire, genocide, gore, house fires, misogyny, murder, prisons, torture, unreality, unsanitary, violence, wars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Murder, Self harm, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
Minor: Slavery, Animal death, Sexual violence, Rape, Domestic abuse, Child death, and Death
2treads's review
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Banker continues his lush and vivid adventure across the Burnt Empire, bringing new characters unto the field, fighting for peace and moving parties into place to sweep across the land to assert control and subjugate.
As with Upon a Burning Throne, Jarsun has not let his greed for power subside and has now swayed new apostles to his war. But there are forces massing in order to maintain balance in the empire.
With rich descriptive prose, the landscape and different kingdoms' political and monarchical systems are introduced further expanding on the world. Banker has drawn upon the respect for balance that is weaved into the Hindu way of life, the acknowledgement of the power that lies within the natural world, and the forces that will ensure that whenever the natural order is askew, equilibrium will be attained.
My only gripe with how this story unfolded was the fact that the women were too much in the background, considering the title. Banker focused too much on the male warrior prowess, penchant for violence, and lineage. I believe a retelling is a tool that can be used to subvert and upend the very patriarchal tone that exists in so many epics. He missed the opportunity to do that with this book.
And he spent too much time relaying their stories of strength and conquest, using repetition that did nothing to advance the plot.
His love of using multiple character viewpoints for the same scenes dragged the reading experience and his penchant for using animals and women to show the unmatched strength and benevolence of his male characters grated.
The intricate political machinations, consolidating of power and states, strategic movements and placement of players on the board was entertaining and satisfying.
Characters that are wily, devious, and excel at playing mind games are my favourite to read; Banker does well with crafting them and the ways they are willing to use anyone to seize and secure power. But villains with no brain capacity and daddy issues, who show no iota of self-actualization and -acceptance are so dull to read.
The first book in the series was done really well, if a bit long-winded, but now I wonder what was missed because the story pulled me under.
As with Upon a Burning Throne, Jarsun has not let his greed for power subside and has now swayed new apostles to his war. But there are forces massing in order to maintain balance in the empire.
With rich descriptive prose, the landscape and different kingdoms' political and monarchical systems are introduced further expanding on the world. Banker has drawn upon the respect for balance that is weaved into the Hindu way of life, the acknowledgement of the power that lies within the natural world, and the forces that will ensure that whenever the natural order is askew, equilibrium will be attained.
My only gripe with how this story unfolded was the fact that the women were too much in the background, considering the title. Banker focused too much on the male warrior prowess, penchant for violence, and lineage. I believe a retelling is a tool that can be used to subvert and upend the very patriarchal tone that exists in so many epics. He missed the opportunity to do that with this book.
And he spent too much time relaying their stories of strength and conquest, using repetition that did nothing to advance the plot.
His love of using multiple character viewpoints for the same scenes dragged the reading experience and his penchant for using animals and women to show the unmatched strength and benevolence of his male characters grated.
The intricate political machinations, consolidating of power and states, strategic movements and placement of players on the board was entertaining and satisfying.
Characters that are wily, devious, and excel at playing mind games are my favourite to read; Banker does well with crafting them and the ways they are willing to use anyone to seize and secure power. But villains with no brain capacity and daddy issues, who show no iota of self-actualization and -acceptance are so dull to read.
The first book in the series was done really well, if a bit long-winded, but now I wonder what was missed because the story pulled me under.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child death, Violence, Murder, and Confinement
More...