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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
2'5/5
No ha estado mal, pero tampoco me ha gustado tanto como esperaba.
Así como la primera parte de esta bilogía, The queen's rising, me pareció un libro bastante sólido a nivel de trama, The queen's resistance se me ha quedado demasiado flojo en varios aspectos.
Primero y más importante de la lista: este libro me ha parecido completamente innecesario. Para mi gusto, todo quedaba perfectamente concluido en el final de The queen's rising (a falta de acabar de cerrar alguna cosa que otra que se quedaban un poco en el aire), y si soy sincera, me esperaba muchísimo más de esta segunda entrega.
Lo que al principio prometía ser un libro muy político, en el que la autora nos iba a hacer partícipes de las rivalidades, alianzas y confabulaciones entre las distintas casas nobles de Maevana, se ha centrado mucho más en ciertos aspectos que han hecho que la trama se quedara bastante por debajo de lo que prometía ser (o por lo menos así ha ocurrido para mi gusto).
Tampoco me ha hecho mucha gracia que algunos personajes que me encantaron en el primer libro pierden muchísima potencia en esta continuación, quedándose algunos incluso relegados a un papel muy secundario e insustancial cuando podrían haber dado muchísimo más juego.
Además, hay partes de la historia que he sentido que estaban ahí únicamente para rellenar páginas, y que se podrían haber aprovechado muchísimo mejor, teniendo en cuenta todo lo que podía dar de sí este universo.
Pese a sus fallos, ha sido una lectura entretenida y ligera, y me ha gustado reencontrarme con Brienna, Cartier, Merei y compañía.
No ha estado mal, pero tampoco me ha gustado tanto como esperaba.
Así como la primera parte de esta bilogía, The queen's rising, me pareció un libro bastante sólido a nivel de trama, The queen's resistance se me ha quedado demasiado flojo en varios aspectos.
Primero y más importante de la lista: este libro me ha parecido completamente innecesario. Para mi gusto, todo quedaba perfectamente concluido en el final de The queen's rising (a falta de acabar de cerrar alguna cosa que otra que se quedaban un poco en el aire), y si soy sincera, me esperaba muchísimo más de esta segunda entrega.
Lo que al principio prometía ser un libro muy político, en el que la autora nos iba a hacer partícipes de las rivalidades, alianzas y confabulaciones entre las distintas casas nobles de Maevana, se ha centrado mucho más en ciertos aspectos que han hecho que la trama se quedara bastante por debajo de lo que prometía ser (o por lo menos así ha ocurrido para mi gusto).
Tampoco me ha hecho mucha gracia que algunos personajes que me encantaron en el primer libro pierden muchísima potencia en esta continuación, quedándose algunos incluso relegados a un papel muy secundario e insustancial cuando podrían haber dado muchísimo más juego.
Además, hay partes de la historia que he sentido que estaban ahí únicamente para rellenar páginas, y que se podrían haber aprovechado muchísimo mejor, teniendo en cuenta todo lo que podía dar de sí este universo.
Pese a sus fallos, ha sido una lectura entretenida y ligera, y me ha gustado reencontrarme con Brienna, Cartier, Merei y compañía.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Good follow up to The Queen's Rising. Full of plot twists, action and romance.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
5/5 stars
Recommended for people who like: historical-coded fiction, magic, court intrigue
Trigger Warning: abuse, torture, abduction/kidnapping, mentions of rape, implied sex/human trafficking. Note: all of the TWs are for the book itself and not the review.
I was wary when I first found out there was to be a sequel to The Queen's Rising , since I thought it ended with the loose bits tied up. I was wrong, there was still plenty for Ross to write about in this book.
Unlike the previous book, this one was told in alternating Cartier/Aodhan and Brienna POVs. Like the previous book, a lot of the content is setting up for the big ending, though it takes place over a shorter period of time than The Queen's Rising . I liked how, despite the fact most of the book is setup, it didn't feel like it was dragging on. Every scene felt as though it had importance, either to the overall plot or to the smaller plots.
I don't really remember much of Brienna from the previous book (I did not reread), but she's a strong character in this one, interested in the well-being of others as well as what's just. She struggles with how the people of the MacQuinn line see her after the big revelation at the end of the previous book, but she does her best to show them she's not like the Allenachs or Lannons instead of just outright telling them. We get to see some of her intelligence and cleverness, though I wish there were a bit more included in this one, I seem to recall it playing a larger importance in the previous book, but I could be mistaken.
It was interesting getting into Cartier's head. It definitely made him seem like a younger person than Brienna seems to make him out to be. Like her, he's also struggling with the people of his line, but because he has to basically rebuild his estate and not because they don't trust him. He spends a lot of time strategizing with the core people from the previous book--they may have won, but Isolde isn't on the throne yet--and Brienna does play a part in these interactions. Ross has written him as a very love-struck character, seemingly continually taken by Brienna's beauty and intelligence. Which...ok, fine they're in love, but it got to be a bit much for my taste.
Some new minor characters include two Lannon children: Ewan and Keela. Ewan is the one we first meet, and he's definitely mischievous and wily enough to have survived on his own and help/work to concoct several escape plans. It's obvious that he wiggles his way into everyone's hearts rather quickly after he's introduced, and the interplay between adult and child is very interesting. Keela is a bit more wary of everyone at first--and vice versa--but warms up to Brienna once they get things talking. Once she's convinced Brienna, Cartier/Aodhan, and the others are going to try to help and protect her, she's completely on board and loyal to them. We get to see Declan Lannon again and he's just as much of a dick as before, so that was a nice refresher. The contrast between him, Keela and Ewan, and some other surprise!Lannon's provides an interesting dichotomy for readers. On Declan's side, we have a boy who grew up with horrors around him and decided to turn around and replicate those horrors and worse. On Keela and Ewan's side, they grew up with the same horrors and, while at least Keela was forced to do bad things to avoid having them done to her, both were more drawn to the side that was trying to dispense justice and right the moral wrongs that had occurred. The surprise!Lannon's each handled their bloodline differently as well.
I liked how Ross built up to the final conflict, each of the newly introduced characters, even the minor ones, playing an important role in how things play out. The cutting of a character's hair made me so mad , even if I can understand from a historical perspective why it's a trope that's so often seen in books with similar scenarios (I can think of two off the top of my head, though both are Middle Eastern fantasies), it just strikes me as such a humiliating punishment. Speaking of this part of the book, I thought it was a bit odd the character was only bothered with once, despite the fact it seemed as though they had been unconscious for several days. If I, personally, were a fictional villain with tendencies toward torturing, I would not leave my prisoner alone for very long. But that's beside the point. I also enjoyed seeing how things with Ewan and Keela played out in the end.
Recommended for people who like: historical-coded fiction, magic, court intrigue
Trigger Warning: abuse, torture, abduction/kidnapping, mentions of rape, implied sex/human trafficking. Note: all of the TWs are for the book itself and not the review.
I was wary when I first found out there was to be a sequel to The Queen's Rising , since I thought it ended with the loose bits tied up. I was wrong, there was still plenty for Ross to write about in this book.
Unlike the previous book, this one was told in alternating Cartier/Aodhan and Brienna POVs. Like the previous book, a lot of the content is setting up for the big ending, though it takes place over a shorter period of time than The Queen's Rising . I liked how, despite the fact most of the book is setup, it didn't feel like it was dragging on. Every scene felt as though it had importance, either to the overall plot or to the smaller plots.
I don't really remember much of Brienna from the previous book (I did not reread), but she's a strong character in this one, interested in the well-being of others as well as what's just. She struggles with how the people of the MacQuinn line see her after the big revelation at the end of the previous book, but she does her best to show them she's not like the Allenachs or Lannons instead of just outright telling them. We get to see some of her intelligence and cleverness, though I wish there were a bit more included in this one, I seem to recall it playing a larger importance in the previous book, but I could be mistaken.
It was interesting getting into Cartier's head. It definitely made him seem like a younger person than Brienna seems to make him out to be. Like her, he's also struggling with the people of his line, but because he has to basically rebuild his estate and not because they don't trust him. He spends a lot of time strategizing with the core people from the previous book--they may have won, but Isolde isn't on the throne yet--and Brienna does play a part in these interactions. Ross has written him as a very love-struck character, seemingly continually taken by Brienna's beauty and intelligence. Which...ok, fine they're in love, but it got to be a bit much for my taste.
Some new minor characters include two Lannon children: Ewan and Keela. Ewan is the one we first meet, and he's definitely mischievous and wily enough to have survived on his own and help/work to concoct several escape plans. It's obvious that he wiggles his way into everyone's hearts rather quickly after he's introduced, and the interplay between adult and child is very interesting. Keela is a bit more wary of everyone at first--and vice versa--but warms up to Brienna once they get things talking. Once she's convinced Brienna, Cartier/Aodhan, and the others are going to try to help and protect her, she's completely on board and loyal to them. We get to see Declan Lannon again and he's just as much of a dick as before, so that was a nice refresher. The contrast between him, Keela and Ewan, and some other surprise!Lannon's provides an interesting dichotomy for readers. On Declan's side, we have a boy who grew up with horrors around him and decided to turn around and replicate those horrors and worse. On Keela and Ewan's side, they grew up with the same horrors and, while at least Keela was forced to do bad things to avoid having them done to her, both were more drawn to the side that was trying to dispense justice and right the moral wrongs that had occurred. The surprise!Lannon's each handled their bloodline differently as well.
I liked how Ross built up to the final conflict, each of the newly introduced characters, even the minor ones, playing an important role in how things play out. The cutting of a character's hair made me so mad , even if I can understand from a historical perspective why it's a trope that's so often seen in books with similar scenarios (I can think of two off the top of my head, though both are Middle Eastern fantasies), it just strikes me as such a humiliating punishment. Speaking of this part of the book, I thought it was a bit odd the character was only bothered with once, despite the fact it seemed as though they had been unconscious for several days. If I, personally, were a fictional villain with tendencies toward torturing, I would not leave my prisoner alone for very long. But that's beside the point. I also enjoyed seeing how things with Ewan and Keela played out in the end.
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am utterly in love with this duology. The first book was really good, but this second one is simply enthralling. The carefully-woven plot, the authenticity of the characters, the whimsical worldbuilding... Thanks, Rebecca Ross, for creating a whole new home for me. This duology is bound to enter my (very short and exclusive) Comfort Reads list!
Cartier was an impressive character. I love how he's a man who can foster both light and darkness, both good and bad--he's not just another fairytale Prince Charming, but rather a human being who has emotions, feelings, and sentiments. On a different note, Brienna has quickly become one of my favourite female characters ever. (So has, by the way, Isolde! Queen of Maevana, and of my heart as well) She's really clever and cunning, and I'm really proud of her, somehow. Not only is she a Mistress of Passion; she's also a really intelligent and resourceful woman, very sensible to others' needs but never a welcome mat or a Mary Sue. I loved how she always tried to stay true to her principles, even when that got her hurt or got disapproved by others.
Kudos, too, for the Found Family trope! Jourdain and Luc are an absolute delight. So are Ewan and Keela, who were also very dear characters I was awed by. As for Declan, I really loved how he was a well-built antagonist. He didn't just want to do bad for the sake of bad; he had his own crooked reasoning to justify his actions and crimes. Something I also really enjoyed were the Houses' dynamics, and their allegiances, loyalties, traditions, and alliances. Shoutout to Grainne Dermott and her consort (¡! Men are the consorts, for once, while the lasses rule!), as well as to my beloved son Sean Allenach.
I feel like I could talk on and on and on about this book, and I still wouldn't quite express how lovely a read it was. These books are definitely underrated, and that's such a pity! Cleverly plotted and delicately narrated, 'The Queen's Rising' is basically the duology I wish I had read while growing up. Here's to many returns to Maevana!
Cartier was an impressive character. I love how he's a man who can foster both light and darkness, both good and bad--he's not just another fairytale Prince Charming, but rather a human being who has emotions, feelings, and sentiments. On a different note, Brienna has quickly become one of my favourite female characters ever. (So has, by the way, Isolde! Queen of Maevana, and of my heart as well) She's really clever and cunning, and I'm really proud of her, somehow. Not only is she a Mistress of Passion; she's also a really intelligent and resourceful woman, very sensible to others' needs but never a welcome mat or a Mary Sue. I loved how she always tried to stay true to her principles, even when that got her hurt or got disapproved by others.
Kudos, too, for the Found Family trope! Jourdain and Luc are an absolute delight. So are Ewan and Keela, who were also very dear characters I was awed by. As for Declan, I really loved how he was a well-built antagonist. He didn't just want to do bad for the sake of bad; he had his own crooked reasoning to justify his actions and crimes. Something I also really enjoyed were the Houses' dynamics, and their allegiances, loyalties, traditions, and alliances. Shoutout to Grainne Dermott and her consort (¡! Men are the consorts, for once, while the lasses rule!), as well as to my beloved son Sean Allenach.
I feel like I could talk on and on and on about this book, and I still wouldn't quite express how lovely a read it was. These books are definitely underrated, and that's such a pity! Cleverly plotted and delicately narrated, 'The Queen's Rising' is basically the duology I wish I had read while growing up. Here's to many returns to Maevana!
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes