Scan barcode
tortue's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
basicbbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Roa is the worst.
novelheartbeat's review
4.0
Love withstands all things. Even death. Especially death.This didn't quite have the magic that The Last Namsara did, but I still really enjoyed it! It was a great companion novel! Don't expect to see much of the characters you loved from the first book. Or dragons. If you can destroy that expectation before you ever go in, you'll enjoy this one a lot more. I was pretty disappointed that there were no dragons or Asha.
I loved the magic involved and the bond between Roa and Essie! It was so magical and strong, and I love that their bond was powerful enough to transcend death. Roa was willing to give up everything for Essie, it was quite beautiful!
"Like a sailor who needs the heavens to find his way home, you were my own star, burning in the night. Helping me find my way."
I love how this book showed that things aren't always as they seem, that sometimes things aren't just black and white. I don't want to say much else because I don't want to give anything away, but I just adore the way the romance is set up! ALL THE FEELS!
Spoiler
I love that Dax is seen as a villain for most of the book, when he was really just doing what was best for everyone involved. And he actually did care for Roa all along! I love that her perception of him was so totally wrong. You feel it hardcore, because you as a reader perceive him wrong because she does. But then the veil is lifted and you see the truth - I loved that so hard!! And I loved Dax to pieces!"Real love is the strongest kind of steel. It's a blade that can be melted down, its form changed with every bang of the hammer, but to break it is a task no one is capable of. Not even Death."
I am very happy with the way that everything played out in the end! It seemed to be headed toward disaster and heartbreak, and while it was an emotional ending, everything wrapped up quite nicely. Not too perfect (because we all know I'm a masochist and don't like HEAs), but bittersweet!
This review was originally posted on Novel Heartbeat. To see a breakdown of my assessment, please visit the full review here.
petrichor_pages's review
3.0
The one thing that I wished I had known going into this book is that it is A COMPANION to The Last Namsara. This book, instead of following the protagonists from the original novel, follows Roa, Essie, and Dax.
Roa is married to Dax and trying to use that relationship to help her people. Unfortunately, Roa finds Dax to be procrastinating on keeping his promises to help her people. Roa also notices that her sister Essie, who is in the body of a bird, seems to be running out of time before her spirit must cross over.
The book had some interesting twists and not everything as it seems between Essie, Dax, and Roa. The problem is that I had trouble caring. I didn't realize that this book was going to follow a different set of characters. While I liked Asha well enough, I hated Roa. I found her personality grating, and I had difficulty relating to her troubles with making her marriage work when she was pretty far from honest.
Roa is married to Dax and trying to use that relationship to help her people. Unfortunately, Roa finds Dax to be procrastinating on keeping his promises to help her people. Roa also notices that her sister Essie, who is in the body of a bird, seems to be running out of time before her spirit must cross over.
The book had some interesting twists and not everything as it seems between Essie, Dax, and Roa. The problem is that I had trouble caring. I didn't realize that this book was going to follow a different set of characters. While I liked Asha well enough, I hated Roa. I found her personality grating, and I had difficulty relating to her troubles with making her marriage work when she was pretty far from honest.
nyxiabel's review
4.0
This book confused me... I enjoyed the story but I'm sad about the lack of dragons
emilyreadsfantasy's review
5.0
I loved this book so much. My heart lived for the romance (seems to be a theme with me lately) and I would love love to read another book about these two characters falling in love. I think the ending was a bit rushed but then again that's probably just me wanting more time to read about Dax and Roa. The plot and story itself was also great & exciting, enjoyed the fast paced feeling of this book.
bigdreamsandwildthings's review
4.0
“‘Real love is the strongest kind of steel. It’s a blade that can be melted down, its form changed with every bang of the hammer, but to break it is a task no one is capable of. Not even Death.’”
I really enjoyed my time back in this brutal, colourful world. This book is a companion to The Last Namsara rather than a straight sequel and I've gotta say, I wish more authors did that. There were enough hints of the last book to keep me satisfied, but the new story was engrossing without having to remember every last detail of the book that came before it, which I really appreciate. But I digress.
The Caged Queen follows Roa, the scrublander queen, and Dax, her dragon king, in their new life as monarchs. Roa is fighting for her people, and Dax appears to be...not, and the tension builds as the pair travel to Firgaard to meet with councils and do monarch-y things. But there is trouble brewing from those who want Dax and/or Roa off the throne, and true change never comes without a price. Roa's sister Essie plays heavily into the story, as does her past lover Theo.
As I said before, I really liked this book. I felt like I was engaged and engrossed throughout the whole thing, and there's something about Kristen's writing style that makes the story fly by without you even noticing it's happening. I was ready for some political intrigue, some hate to love romance, and some general twisty-turnies that would leave me clutching the book and wondering how I didn't see it coming.
I got two of the three.
The reason I take a star off is because everything just felt quite...conventional. Even the "twists" were not twisty; Roa would be thinking one thing and I'd be like "honey, no" and then the big reveal would happen and I just felt like nothing could surprise me. And it didn't.
That didn't necessarily lessen the touching moments, though - that is a strength of this book, for sure. The romance was on point and the development between Roa and Dax was breathtaking and hard to put down when I had to stop reading. And Roa and Essie were also just so heartbreakingly wonderful. The people in Kristen's books feel real enough that even with this mediocre plot, I still invested, and I still felt satisfied at the end of it all.
Basically, this is good YA fantasy that just happens to be Canadian. I fricken love that we finally get a series from a Canadian author that lives up to the standard in the genre, and keeps me invested the entire way through.
I really enjoyed my time back in this brutal, colourful world. This book is a companion to The Last Namsara rather than a straight sequel and I've gotta say, I wish more authors did that. There were enough hints of the last book to keep me satisfied, but the new story was engrossing without having to remember every last detail of the book that came before it, which I really appreciate. But I digress.
The Caged Queen follows Roa, the scrublander queen, and Dax, her dragon king, in their new life as monarchs. Roa is fighting for her people, and Dax appears to be...not, and the tension builds as the pair travel to Firgaard to meet with councils and do monarch-y things. But there is trouble brewing from those who want Dax and/or Roa off the throne, and true change never comes without a price. Roa's sister Essie plays heavily into the story, as does her past lover Theo.
As I said before, I really liked this book. I felt like I was engaged and engrossed throughout the whole thing, and there's something about Kristen's writing style that makes the story fly by without you even noticing it's happening. I was ready for some political intrigue, some hate to love romance, and some general twisty-turnies that would leave me clutching the book and wondering how I didn't see it coming.
I got two of the three.
The reason I take a star off is because everything just felt quite...conventional. Even the "twists" were not twisty; Roa would be thinking one thing and I'd be like "honey, no" and then the big reveal would happen and I just felt like nothing could surprise me. And it didn't.
That didn't necessarily lessen the touching moments, though - that is a strength of this book, for sure. The romance was on point and the development between Roa and Dax was breathtaking and hard to put down when I had to stop reading. And Roa and Essie were also just so heartbreakingly wonderful. The people in Kristen's books feel real enough that even with this mediocre plot, I still invested, and I still felt satisfied at the end of it all.
Basically, this is good YA fantasy that just happens to be Canadian. I fricken love that we finally get a series from a Canadian author that lives up to the standard in the genre, and keeps me invested the entire way through.
queenstaves's review
adventurous
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Solid, but I wish more attention was given to character relationships, rather than the cyclical and exhausting internal dialogue of Roa.
Roa is a strong strategist, but is cut off at the knees by grief and her inability to let go.
The lack of attention to relationship details or reflection beyond the immediate dynamic does dull the complexity of her feelings and decisions.
Go into it knowing that the author probably thought this was coming through, but it wasn't.
Otherwise, it's a decent sequel, with a female protagonist that feels real, instead of ideal.
Also, comparing what we learn about Dax in this book with The Last Namsara, I'm impressed with the author and her restraint.
What this author does exceptionally well is foreshadowing. I greatly appreciate it.
Roa is a strong strategist, but is cut off at the knees by grief and her inability to let go.
The lack of attention to relationship details or reflection beyond the immediate dynamic does dull the complexity of her feelings and decisions.
Go into it knowing that the author probably thought this was coming through, but it wasn't.
Otherwise, it's a decent sequel, with a female protagonist that feels real, instead of ideal.
Also, comparing what we learn about Dax in this book with The Last Namsara, I'm impressed with the author and her restraint.
What this author does exceptionally well is foreshadowing. I greatly appreciate it.