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symone95's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lawryn's review against another edition
5.0
The conclusion of this series was satisfying to me - a little messy with some loose threads, but satisfying. This 4th book is very similar to the final ACOTAR book as it follows a different character (a sister even!) through her own healing, romance, and adventure. I am interested if the rest of Amanda Bouchet's books are as good at the Kingmaker Chronicles!!!
mandygib_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lynguy1's review against another edition
3.0
Intrigue, danger, action, suspense, a quest, and a romance are mixed with Greek mythology in the fourth book in Amanda Bouchet’s Kingmaker Chronicles: A Curse of Queens. Queen Catalia Thalyria has been cursed before her baby is born. King Griffin’s younger sister and healer Jocasta believes she has found a solution. She hopes to get an antidote by finding Circe’s Garden. However, the fabled island is hidden and requires a dangerous journey. She needs help, and Flynn of Sinta, the man she’s loved for years, volunteers along with three others.
Jocasta is clever, exacting, logical, and brave. Flynn is a warrior, strong, dependable, and doesn’t share his feelings. Neither of them has magic but one of their companions does. Characters from the previous books put in appearances, but the story is focused around Jocasta and Flynn, with their companions on the quest playing major secondary roles. The chemistry between the characters created a dynamic that was fun at times and heart-wrenching at other times.
The cross between a fantasy quest, mythology, and a romance worked well. The main characters were relatable, likeable, and easy for me to want them to succeed. However, the first third of the book was extremely slow-paced. It also took me a while to understand this new-to-me fantasy world. I wanted a little more world-building. I believe those who have read the earlier books in the series would already have that grasp.
Despite this, it was hard to put the book down. There was always something new happening in this story that demanded my attention once the quest started. Danger, action, and harrowing moments are interspersed throughout it. Connecting with the main characters was easy and it was fun to watch the five on the quest grow and develop during the story. The last third of the novel was a true page-turner and there was a big surprise that happened near the end of the book.
Overall, this novel was tense and takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster. It highlights family drama, political intrigue, magic, loyalty, romance, relationships, and communication. Exceptional characters and intense fight scenes made this an entertaining read.
If you like fantasy, action adventure, quests, and Greek mythology, then this series is for you. I highly recommend reading the books in order. A quote by each of the main characters is included at the end of the book as well as a short guide to the mythology.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date was October 4, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 3.38 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.
Jocasta is clever, exacting, logical, and brave. Flynn is a warrior, strong, dependable, and doesn’t share his feelings. Neither of them has magic but one of their companions does. Characters from the previous books put in appearances, but the story is focused around Jocasta and Flynn, with their companions on the quest playing major secondary roles. The chemistry between the characters created a dynamic that was fun at times and heart-wrenching at other times.
The cross between a fantasy quest, mythology, and a romance worked well. The main characters were relatable, likeable, and easy for me to want them to succeed. However, the first third of the book was extremely slow-paced. It also took me a while to understand this new-to-me fantasy world. I wanted a little more world-building. I believe those who have read the earlier books in the series would already have that grasp.
Despite this, it was hard to put the book down. There was always something new happening in this story that demanded my attention once the quest started. Danger, action, and harrowing moments are interspersed throughout it. Connecting with the main characters was easy and it was fun to watch the five on the quest grow and develop during the story. The last third of the novel was a true page-turner and there was a big surprise that happened near the end of the book.
Overall, this novel was tense and takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster. It highlights family drama, political intrigue, magic, loyalty, romance, relationships, and communication. Exceptional characters and intense fight scenes made this an entertaining read.
If you like fantasy, action adventure, quests, and Greek mythology, then this series is for you. I highly recommend reading the books in order. A quote by each of the main characters is included at the end of the book as well as a short guide to the mythology.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date was October 4, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 3.38 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.
smartcookiesca's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
anitak88's review against another edition
2.0
I really have no one but myself to blame for reading this book and expecting something different. I had hoped it would be similar to the first or even the second book but it felt like an underdeveloped book just like the third one. Things happened so fast with Finn and Joe in this book. I know obviously things were developing in the other books but I feel like the author could have done more to show growth and development for their relationship. We're still left with questions about keto and now the whole Atlantis thing. And I know obviously there's probably going to be more books in the series because of the situation with the gods but I just feel it could have been handled and written so much more differently. I definitely will not be reading the other books in the serious matter how curious I am. It's just not worth it
readbyria's review against another edition
4.5
If I don't get books for Kato/Eleni and Carver/Bellanca I will RIOT!!
This book was just what I needed -- my love for this series was waning, but then Amanda comes around and writes this absolute masterpiece of a novel with everything that I love. I am not usually a friends-to-lovers kinda girly, but give me a friends-to-STRANGERS-to-lovers and I will eat it up.
The last 50 pages or so ripped out my heart, put it back together (barely), then tore it to shreds, BUT it set things up perfectly for future stories and I'm so excitedddd!!
This book was just what I needed -- my love for this series was waning, but then Amanda comes around and writes this absolute masterpiece of a novel with everything that I love. I am not usually a friends-to-lovers kinda girly, but give me a friends-to-STRANGERS-to-lovers and I will eat it up.
The last 50 pages or so ripped out my heart, put it back together (barely), then tore it to shreds, BUT it set things up perfectly for future stories and I'm so excitedddd!!
aliceboule's review against another edition
4.0
I like seeing a non-magical heroine in a magical world. Smartness prevails! Not 5 stars for the same reasons as the others.
clmr's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
mfraise05's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars. I finished this because I had to, not because I wanted to lol This book felt flat. Where the previous three moved along quickly with action and dialogue, this one dragged. There was way too much of characters being morose over things that happened in the other books, the banter wasn't cute, it was annoying and boring and again, flat. I liked Jocasta, maybe? I don't know because she was terrible boring. All of them were boring. Even Prometheus. A god. A god was boring. And what kind of nickname is "Pro"? I skipped through a lot of this. And didn't miss a thing.