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leecalliope 's review for:
The True Queen
by Zen Cho
I am reading too much and writing too little; this review has been dragged out of my throat kicking and screaming but I'm trying my best. Sorry if it is incomprehensible.
Sorcerer to the Crown, the first book in this series, easily made my top ten list for 2017. Cho describes an England filled with spirits, abutting an even more mysterious fairy realm. I was very taken with the way she incorporated the social prejudices of our world into her fantastic settings, and I loved her characters.
I didn't finish the first book wishing for a sequel, and I am hesitant about the trend of every book opening a series. Also worth noting is that it has been two years since I read Sorcerer to the Crown, and I do not remember many details. With those caveats, I thought this was an enjoyable extension to the story. The vast majority of the characters return from book one, with the exception of the protagonist, who is the pov character for most chapters. In this way, and because the Wythes are sidelined by their responsibilities for the majority of the book, The True Queen feels like a fresh perspective on a world I really enjoyed.
Muna is an eminently likeable protagonist. Her personality and objectives are well-established from the beginning of the story, and develop in a way that feels believable. Cho has a talent for characters who make extreme choices from positions where they have few options, and Muna's actions always surprised me, while still developing naturally from her position.
This book is gayer than the last one, which I appreciated, though once again I felt that the romance was barely there for the majority of the story, and then announced itself very suddenly in the last few pages. I enjoyed the hints of it throughout the book, and the characters involved would have been strengthened by a more explicit description of their feelings.
Sorcerer to the Crown, the first book in this series, easily made my top ten list for 2017. Cho describes an England filled with spirits, abutting an even more mysterious fairy realm. I was very taken with the way she incorporated the social prejudices of our world into her fantastic settings, and I loved her characters.
I didn't finish the first book wishing for a sequel, and I am hesitant about the trend of every book opening a series. Also worth noting is that it has been two years since I read Sorcerer to the Crown, and I do not remember many details. With those caveats, I thought this was an enjoyable extension to the story. The vast majority of the characters return from book one, with the exception of the protagonist, who is the pov character for most chapters. In this way, and because the Wythes are sidelined by their responsibilities for the majority of the book, The True Queen feels like a fresh perspective on a world I really enjoyed.
Muna is an eminently likeable protagonist. Her personality and objectives are well-established from the beginning of the story, and develop in a way that feels believable. Cho has a talent for characters who make extreme choices from positions where they have few options, and Muna's actions always surprised me, while still developing naturally from her position.
This book is gayer than the last one, which I appreciated, though once again I felt that the romance was barely there for the majority of the story, and then announced itself very suddenly in the last few pages. I enjoyed the hints of it throughout the book, and the characters involved would have been strengthened by a more explicit description of their feelings.