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The Queen's Resistance
by Rebecca Ross
OH. Oh, my heart. Oh damn. All right, ok. Pull it together. I just. Akdhalkhglkahgklahdflkhsdflahsglhglahgl;h. All the feels. OK, let me try to scrape my heart off the floor and type coherently.
But I’m just so happy. Be warned that if you have not read The Queen’s Rising, there is the possibility for spoilers, but it will tag all spoilers for The Queen’s Resistance.
Ok. The Queen’s Resistance takes place a mere three days after the events of The Queen’s Rising. Brienna is living with her adopted father, MacQuinn (who she still calls Jourdain, so it may slip into my review as well), Luc, and a simple walk away from Aodhan/Cartier *swoons*. Isolde is to be crowned queen in a few weeks, but first the former king, Gilroy Lannon, and his entire immediate family are to stand trial. His family includes his wife, Oona, his son, Declan, and Declan’s two children, Keela and Ewan. Our entire merry band is trying to rebuild their estates after twenty-five years of Lannon abuse and neglect, especially the dilapidated estate of our resident lover boy, Aodhan Morgane. Tons of political intrigue abound; new alliances must be formed among the clans, the secret group of supporters and spies of the Lannon’s have to be dealt with, and amidst it all Brienna and Aodhan need to decide where they truly belong, what they can forgive, and who they are in this new world they are helping to establish.
I loved this entire book. I was gripped from beginning to end, even though it has been at least a year since I read TQR. I love that the plot covered a time frame that we usually don’t get to see in YA. Normally the book/series only leads up to the dethroning of the evil king, the new ruler’s coronation is added into an epilogue, and everyone lives happily ever after. But not this one! Here we have to deal with the mess that was left behind after we depose the evil king, and how his poison hardened his country. Even though we really only dealt with two clans that were resisting the changes wrought in the first book, the way the trial was handled in relation to Keela was very poignant for me.
Another theme that was heavily prominent in this story was the importance of family. The love that Brienna has for her adopted father, MacQuinn, even though he has only been in her life for a short time, is truly powerful. I love that he was always the picture of fatherhood, doting, protective, stern sometimes, but also very proud of this girl that he brought into his home. The way he reacted to Pierce Halloran’s proposal had me giggling like a small child, I just love him so much. It was so wonderful to see a father figure that was just...a normal dad? Yeah, he was annoying sometimes in his protectiveness, but he really was trying to do whatever he could to keep her safe. And I can’t imagine a better dad than that.
Speaking of dads, just briefly, I have to say Fuck you, Declan.
What really took the spotlight in this book were the sister relationships! So. Many. Strong. Women. Working. Together!!!!!! Brienna and Isolde always having each other’s back and really counseling each other. Isolde instantly using her healing magic instead of being angry when plans went awry, no judgement. Also the fact that I cannot remember one conversation that those two women had that was about Cartier. They were always planning some take down or the coronation or talking about magic, never boys. Passed the Bechdel test with flying colors.
Speaking of strong women:
Neeve- sweet little sunflower!!!! I love herrrrrrrr and her instant alliance with Brienna.
Betha- Yeah, she was difficult to handle in the beginning. But she takes no shit and she is more
than prepared to dish it out.
Lila- My heart is absolutely broken, and I’m not going to go much into it, but just. This lady, ya’ll.
Aileen- Again. Here’s my heart, lying on the floor. Just leave it there, it’s in pieces anyway. Her recounting of the night Aodhan’s sister died actually broke me. But her ability to carry on past that awful night puts her high on the list of strongest women I’ve ever read.
I cried probably three times in this book, and two were out of pure joy. Aodhan’s people banding together to rebuild was so beautiful and sweet and exactly the kind of moment that everyone wants to feel after a tragedy. The love that Ross managed to pour into those scenes were just wonderful. The second was the ending. Because. Just. FEEEEEEEELLS!!!!!
All in all, this definitely goes on my list of favorite books of all time, and I think I will be rereading both of these again in the VERY near future.
Trigger Warnings - child torture, parental abuse, torture, violent death, kidnapping, frequent mentions of rape and mutilation
But I’m just so happy. Be warned that if you have not read The Queen’s Rising, there is the possibility for spoilers, but it will tag all spoilers for The Queen’s Resistance.
Ok. The Queen’s Resistance takes place a mere three days after the events of The Queen’s Rising. Brienna is living with her adopted father, MacQuinn (who she still calls Jourdain, so it may slip into my review as well), Luc, and a simple walk away from Aodhan/Cartier *swoons*. Isolde is to be crowned queen in a few weeks, but first the former king, Gilroy Lannon, and his entire immediate family are to stand trial. His family includes his wife, Oona, his son, Declan, and Declan’s two children, Keela and Ewan. Our entire merry band is trying to rebuild their estates after twenty-five years of Lannon abuse and neglect, especially the dilapidated estate of our resident lover boy, Aodhan Morgane. Tons of political intrigue abound; new alliances must be formed among the clans, the secret group of supporters and spies of the Lannon’s have to be dealt with, and amidst it all Brienna and Aodhan need to decide where they truly belong, what they can forgive, and who they are in this new world they are helping to establish.
I loved this entire book. I was gripped from beginning to end, even though it has been at least a year since I read TQR. I love that the plot covered a time frame that we usually don’t get to see in YA. Normally the book/series only leads up to the dethroning of the evil king, the new ruler’s coronation is added into an epilogue, and everyone lives happily ever after. But not this one! Here we have to deal with the mess that was left behind after we depose the evil king, and how his poison hardened his country. Even though we really only dealt with two clans that were resisting the changes wrought in the first book, the way the trial was handled in relation to Keela was very poignant for me.
Spoiler
The fact that the people were so ready to condemn a twelve year old girl to death without even hearing her defense is just so telling of the damage that a cruel ruler can do to the hearts of their people. It also effectively showed that Isolde and her council did not have the best method: Keela, as Aodhan says, should definitely have gone first, before she could be tainted by the grievances against her family.Another theme that was heavily prominent in this story was the importance of family. The love that Brienna has for her adopted father, MacQuinn, even though he has only been in her life for a short time, is truly powerful. I love that he was always the picture of fatherhood, doting, protective, stern sometimes, but also very proud of this girl that he brought into his home. The way he reacted to Pierce Halloran’s proposal had me giggling like a small child, I just love him so much. It was so wonderful to see a father figure that was just...a normal dad? Yeah, he was annoying sometimes in his protectiveness, but he really was trying to do whatever he could to keep her safe. And I can’t imagine a better dad than that.
Speaking of dads, just briefly, I have to say Fuck you, Declan.
What really took the spotlight in this book were the sister relationships! So. Many. Strong. Women. Working. Together!!!!!! Brienna and Isolde always having each other’s back and really counseling each other.
Spoiler
Brienna fully intending to keep her promise to give up Ewan if Isolde asked her to, despite her relationship with Cartier.Speaking of strong women:
Neeve- sweet little sunflower!!!! I love herrrrrrrr and her instant alliance with Brienna.
Betha- Yeah, she was difficult to handle in the beginning. But she takes no shit and she is more
than prepared to dish it out.
Lila- My heart is absolutely broken, and I’m not going to go much into it, but just. This lady, ya’ll.
Aileen- Again. Here’s my heart, lying on the floor. Just leave it there, it’s in pieces anyway. Her recounting of the night Aodhan’s sister died actually broke me. But her ability to carry on past that awful night puts her high on the list of strongest women I’ve ever read.
I cried probably three times in this book, and two were out of pure joy. Aodhan’s people banding together to rebuild was so beautiful and sweet and exactly the kind of moment that everyone wants to feel after a tragedy. The love that Ross managed to pour into those scenes were just wonderful. The second was the ending. Because. Just. FEEEEEEEELLS!!!!!
All in all, this definitely goes on my list of favorite books of all time, and I think I will be rereading both of these again in the VERY near future.
Trigger Warnings - child torture, parental abuse, torture, violent death, kidnapping, frequent mentions of rape and mutilation