Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by raji_c
The True Queen by Zen Cho
4.0
This is quite different from Zen Cho’s first book although set in the same universe. I liked this one for different reasons. One, she’s managed to set a story in the same universe but the main characters from the previous book have only supporting roles here while others take centre stage. Cho has executed this deftly, in my view, and in doing so, she has made me think of how a shift in perspective can make some positive qualities seem negative. Prunella Gentleman who is a decisive, intelligent, powerful and resourceful woman can also be a bit of a bully as a friend and is not a good listener, at least not for Miss Henrietta Stapleton, who is her oldest friend.
Two, Cho’s stories seem to be centred on female protagonists, each with perfectly imperfect women: Muna, Sakti, Mak Genggang, Henrietta, Prunella, even Clarissa and the Fairy Queen are interesting women. Three, Cho is a Malaysian writer living in Britain and it’s not surprising therefore that her books of magical fantasy rely on the magic and traditions of the West as well as the East. The fusion makes her fantastical world fascinating. I would definitely like to read more of her work.
Two, Cho’s stories seem to be centred on female protagonists, each with perfectly imperfect women: Muna, Sakti, Mak Genggang, Henrietta, Prunella, even Clarissa and the Fairy Queen are interesting women. Three, Cho is a Malaysian writer living in Britain and it’s not surprising therefore that her books of magical fantasy rely on the magic and traditions of the West as well as the East. The fusion makes her fantastical world fascinating. I would definitely like to read more of her work.