Reviews

The Spring Queen by Jamie Applegate Hunter

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jedimegan's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Like the first, not enough normal characters

up_til_dawn_reading's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.5

I really enjoyed the second book in the series. The world building is very nice. I enjoyed the twist. I did not see the ending coming. Definitely left the book with the bank. Can’t wait to read book 3.

theyarnling's review against another edition

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3.0

Spring Queen by Jamie Applegate Hunter

Kindle Unlimited

Overall 3

Spice 4

Fated Mates
Rejection
Second Chance Romance
Grief
Low Fantasy Post Apocalyptic World
Overcoming Abuse
Navigating being the “Chosen One”
Romance and Spice Increased
Book 2 of a Finished Series
Spoilers —Pregnancy trope but central to plot
Slight redundancy
Wild West? Really? Why did the “gods” choose that
Multiple “lands” feels very Westworld meets DnD with fantasy vibes
Addicting AF reading book 3
Rushed pacing
Miscommunication

This series is still highly addicting and such fun but a few of the “quirks” from book 1 seem to continue in book 2. Particularly the modern language used by the guardians. Though plot wise this makes sense especially in the new land (westworld meets DnD). The central romance was arresting and so well written with a lot of “will they won’t they” watching our MMC grow from know it all prince to humble husband was lovely storytelling. I do feel the plot outside of the romance feels rushed (what was the point with F? Why humanize that?) and therefore the pacing felt drawn out in the first ⅔ then rushed for the last ⅓. If you're looking for the next SJM this isn’t it but if you're into enjoyable addicting Smutty fantasy novels that won’t stress your brain! Here it is!

Also ….Again Jamie makes me care more about guardians then the royals. I’m rooting for them over the prince every time. I feel like we have a missed opportunity not exploring that dynamic/pov more

ppchili93's review against another edition

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adventurous sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I've been watching Jamie Applegate Hunter's Tik Tok's for months and was drawn to the premise of her second book in the Rodina Trilogy. "Woman trained to become queen by her true mate who is in love with another woman" - sounds heart wrenching, sign me up. Unfortunately for everyone involved (and I mean everyone), it was heart wrenching in all the wrong ways.

Poor, poor Adira. I mean, first her parents die, then her aunt abuses her for years, then she's thrust into a position as a new queen with unspeakable power, then she's trained by a man destined for her even as that man and his wife talk about how spoiled and lazy she is. Then, to top it all off, the wife dies and Archer blames Adira for it even though she put herself in front of the blade and took a sword to the chest to stop it. Wasn't the wife supposed to be a warrior? She couldn't protect herself from two guys when she had a wolf and another woman with magic helping her? Then, Archer leaves Adira with a sword in her chest in the dirt and carries his wife's body away. After all that and months of derision, Adira understandably tries to take her own life (she can't). Finally, after being the worst ever, stupid Archer learns the truth and recognizes his mistake. For a short while, he and Adira find happiness together, but then when he learns she hid from him that she is his compeer, he abandons her again and starts up a friendship with another woman. This man is probably the most idiotic, annoying, awful trash bag of a human being ever!

First, I did not want the wife to die. I wanted Archer to understand his own feelings without the element of loss and grief thrown in. Would he have just stayed with the wife forever otherwise??? Second, Adira is an absolute doormat. Why did she have zero self-respect? Every time Archer insulted or rejected her - painfully too - she just forgave him and said "grief makes us do things we would never do otherwise." Ummm, he also treated you like shit before his wife died so...Third, why did Adira have to be a virgin when Archer is a 900-year-old man who has literally had thousands of lovers and a wife he loved more than anything?? Finally, my biggest issue with all of the couples in these books and this world: if these immortal beings know that they have a true soulmate (a compeer) waiting for them, why don't they save themselves for that person instead of falling in love with every woman they meet beforehand and then nearly ruining their chances with the person they're meant for? Aren't they concerned that the reason they aren't meeting their compeer is because they're bonking someone else? Guess it's because men just can't keep it in their pants 🙄.

Oh, and one final nail in the coffin! After these magical compeer couples have a baby, they get 500 years and then they die. Even before they're married or even really together, Adira gets pregnant, so her clock is already ticking! She went through all of that and gets to live the least amount of time of any of them. Perfect!

kittyemma9's review against another edition

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fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

wine_tea_paper's review against another edition

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Not well edited or developed. The characters are flat and they morph to better fit their situation or those around them instead of staying true to themselves. Everything is too fast there is no growth. A classic example of telling instead of showing.