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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Book #86 Read in 2016
The King Slayer by Virginia Boecker
This book is a sequel to The Witch Hunter, a YA historical/paranormal book. Elizabeth is still after evil magician Blackwell but without her stigma to protect her she is vulnerable and mortal. John and she are still trying to figure out their romance. Add a war and overthrowing a king to the mix and you have an action-packed read. This book picks up right where the first book leaves off and ends in a way that it could be the end and it could have more to come. A good read, I recommend it for both girls and boys in high school and adults.
The King Slayer by Virginia Boecker
This book is a sequel to The Witch Hunter, a YA historical/paranormal book. Elizabeth is still after evil magician Blackwell but without her stigma to protect her she is vulnerable and mortal. John and she are still trying to figure out their romance. Add a war and overthrowing a king to the mix and you have an action-packed read. This book picks up right where the first book leaves off and ends in a way that it could be the end and it could have more to come. A good read, I recommend it for both girls and boys in high school and adults.
I was lucky enough to win a signed ARC copy of Virginia Boecker's The King Slayer in a giveaway she hosted on Instagram and ... oh man, was I excited! I knew I had to read this book as soon as it comes out but with this early copy I was able to dive into Elizabeth's life sooner than expected, hurrah!
Since I haven't reread the first book, I was a little confused at the beginning - I only vaguely remember the things happening in The Witch Hunter and therefore had a hard time getting into it at first. However, the author manages to "retell" a few of the things that had happened so after a while it got easier and was more understandable.
At first, I was a bit let-down by John. I absolutely adored him in the first book and while I didn't expect (or liked, for that matter) the changes he went through I think they made sense. It also kind of explains why Elizabeth was acting the way she did when they all first met. I still wasn't a huge fan of it and John actually started to annoy me a little ... I mean, ugh. It's complicated. I love him but at times I wanted to smack him hard across the cheek and shake some sense into him! It was a rollercoaster with him, to be honest ... but I still like him a lot, really, and everything's good.
Elizabeth was likeable as usual, even though she also seemed ... confused (?) at times. I remember her being a badass and not giving a fuck but obviously the happenings of book 1 changed her and made her a different person - which I understand! She's still tough and kicks ass but, as with John, I wanted to punch her more than once. Her relationship with Schuyler was amazing though and I'm glad the author showed us more of them together - I'm a huuuuge fan of Schuyler and although I was desperate to read more about him and his past (I'm just so interested in this guy!!), I was pleased with what I got anyway. Could it have been more? Sure, but maybe there'll be a novella about him in the future? *hopes*
Virginia's writing was as addictive as in the first book - it's quick and easy to read but never gets bored, she always managed to keep me interested so that's a good thing! I was surprised at some of the plot twists and expected some others but overall it was a good mixture for me and constantly wanted to know more.
I'm not sure if I liked it more than the first book and even though the ending is good I'm ... torn? It's probably no spoiler when I say something significant is happening (duh) and, yes, it makes sense and some might even say it's a good (the only?) plan but ... no. NOO. I AM NOT OKAY WITH THIS. It just disturbed me how fast they were over those things - at least it seemed that way.
Would I still recommend this book? Heck yes! No book is perfect but I did enjoy The King Slayer a lot and therefore I'm glad I read this. Also, I just had to find out how things were going to end, obviously. If you liked the first book, definitely give this a go and if you haven't read it yet - what are you waiting for? It's a great duology with awesome characters and an interesting plot/setting that'll keep you interested this whole time!
www.aworldbetweenfoldedpages.blogspot.com
________________________
May 29th:
I highly enjoyed this book but am a little bit sad that it's the last one - I'm very much looking forward to novella(s) - SCHUYLER!!! - and hope they'll be as amazing as the books.
Auf Seite 236 abgebrochen!
Es ist einfach SO STINKLANGWEILIG. Kommt überhaupt nicht an das erste Buch heran und wie zur Hölle kann man John so kaputt schreiben? Elizabeth ist mir auch überhaupt nicht sympathisch mehr. Schade dass die Dilogie so bergab ging.
Es ist einfach SO STINKLANGWEILIG. Kommt überhaupt nicht an das erste Buch heran und wie zur Hölle kann man John so kaputt schreiben? Elizabeth ist mir auch überhaupt nicht sympathisch mehr. Schade dass die Dilogie so bergab ging.
dark
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
So happy with the way this ended!
The King Slayer by Virginia Boecker is the final book in The Witch Hunter duology and if you haven’t read book one, definitely go do that soon. I loved book one so much and it’s fair to say that The King Slayer was one of my must have books to get from ALA. I will do my best not to put any spoilers out there but please know that if you haven’t read book one, I can’t promise the same.
Elizabeth was once one of the King’s best witch hunters but when things go very wrong for her, she ends up partnering up with the people she was once tasked with hunting down. As The King Slayer picks up where book one ended, we know that Elizabeth is now missing the protection and strength that her stigma gave her. What it hasn’t changed is her strength to fight and protect the people she loves and cares about. I love this about her and while it creates a lot of heartache and she continues to put herself in the path of danger, she doesn’t do it without purpose.
The relationship Elizabeth has with those around her is still a sensitive one. While she has stepped up to protect Nicholas, John, and everyone else as needed, she is still someone who did Blackwell’s bidding and most people in Harrow find it hard to trust her completely. The exception would be the group from book one. Fifer and Elizabeth are in a much better place and while things happen in this book that test their friendship and the trust Fifer has for Elizabeth, in the end they are still there for each other and will do what they can to protect each other. And take my word for it, Elizabeth really tests the friendships she has built over the course of her time with them.
I want to take a moment to talk about John and Elizabeth. I love these two together and Boecker had me worried for them throughout the entire book. There are good times for them and there are definitely tough times and as the story nears the end, I wasn’t even sure where Boecker was going to take their story. I’m not going to say anything more on this but the one thing I will say is that I still really love these two and while Boecker challenged them both (together and alone) they both showed growth throughout the story and came out better for it in the end.
Speaking of Blackwell, now that he has taken the throne from the King, things are even more dangerous for Elizabeth. Blackwell doesn’t know she doesn’t have her stigma anymore and he wants her back. Of course, Elizabeth will do everything in her power to make sure he doesn’t find out what has happened and Blackwell has done something she never imagined he would do (UGH – I suck for doing that but…he really did!!).
As war looms and eventually comes, things change for all of these characters and Boecker definitely keeps things moving by loading the story up with a lot of action, great characters, and of course, magic. When things come to a head, no one is safe and as we near the end, Elizabeth is determined to figure out what Blackwell has planned and how she is going to stop him.
That’s about all I can say without giving anything away. If you haven’t started this series yet, I encourage you to do so. I really enjoyed it as it had everything I enjoy in good books and once I started, I found myself unable/unwilling to put the book down until I reached the end. I am for sure interested in what Boecker will write next and will be keeping an eye out. Go get this one my friends…I don’t think you will be disappointed.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
The King Slayer by Virginia Boecker is the final book in The Witch Hunter duology and if you haven’t read book one, definitely go do that soon. I loved book one so much and it’s fair to say that The King Slayer was one of my must have books to get from ALA. I will do my best not to put any spoilers out there but please know that if you haven’t read book one, I can’t promise the same.
Elizabeth was once one of the King’s best witch hunters but when things go very wrong for her, she ends up partnering up with the people she was once tasked with hunting down. As The King Slayer picks up where book one ended, we know that Elizabeth is now missing the protection and strength that her stigma gave her. What it hasn’t changed is her strength to fight and protect the people she loves and cares about. I love this about her and while it creates a lot of heartache and she continues to put herself in the path of danger, she doesn’t do it without purpose.
The relationship Elizabeth has with those around her is still a sensitive one. While she has stepped up to protect Nicholas, John, and everyone else as needed, she is still someone who did Blackwell’s bidding and most people in Harrow find it hard to trust her completely. The exception would be the group from book one. Fifer and Elizabeth are in a much better place and while things happen in this book that test their friendship and the trust Fifer has for Elizabeth, in the end they are still there for each other and will do what they can to protect each other. And take my word for it, Elizabeth really tests the friendships she has built over the course of her time with them.
I want to take a moment to talk about John and Elizabeth. I love these two together and Boecker had me worried for them throughout the entire book. There are good times for them and there are definitely tough times and as the story nears the end, I wasn’t even sure where Boecker was going to take their story. I’m not going to say anything more on this but the one thing I will say is that I still really love these two and while Boecker challenged them both (together and alone) they both showed growth throughout the story and came out better for it in the end.
Speaking of Blackwell, now that he has taken the throne from the King, things are even more dangerous for Elizabeth. Blackwell doesn’t know she doesn’t have her stigma anymore and he wants her back. Of course, Elizabeth will do everything in her power to make sure he doesn’t find out what has happened and Blackwell has done something she never imagined he would do (UGH – I suck for doing that but…he really did!!).
As war looms and eventually comes, things change for all of these characters and Boecker definitely keeps things moving by loading the story up with a lot of action, great characters, and of course, magic. When things come to a head, no one is safe and as we near the end, Elizabeth is determined to figure out what Blackwell has planned and how she is going to stop him.
That’s about all I can say without giving anything away. If you haven’t started this series yet, I encourage you to do so. I really enjoyed it as it had everything I enjoy in good books and once I started, I found myself unable/unwilling to put the book down until I reached the end. I am for sure interested in what Boecker will write next and will be keeping an eye out. Go get this one my friends…I don’t think you will be disappointed.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes