A review by cressida
A Queen of Gilded Horns by Amanda Joy

adventurous dark emotional sad tense 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

4.5

This book was written in a slightly different style to the first in the series, and I think that may out off some readers. Based on reviews, this seems to be the case. However, Joy has really come into her own as an author and is developing her preferred style with a strong voice. She gives us multiple POV characters here, and while some have similarities they are each distinct enough from one another that you won’t forget if you put it down halfway through a chapter. 
My personal opinion thinks that we had a POV character that was unnecessary, but they were not given much time on the page anyway so it does not detract much. It would have been fun to see more of another character, but it was not strictly needed. Perhaps the POV cast is meant to hit at a third instalment? I haven’t looked. The contrast and similarities between the sisters allowed you to really see them foil one another and understand and that helped tremendously with connection and investment in the outcome. 
Some of the twists were a little difficult to swallow, because they came across as forced for plot reasons, but they did add to the story well and add a layer of intrigue to the book. 
Action, well done emotional beats, and only a few things that I don’t think were needed but can see the merit in. A solid read. 

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