rynryn's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
merlin_reads's review
3.0
Sadly, I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first and for an almost 600 page book not a lot happened and I felt it's length.
Having run from a forced marriage, Princess Raisa finds a safe haven of sorts at school in Oden's Ford. Here she goes by the name Rebecca Morley and is under the watchful eye of her guard Amon and his cadets. No one knows who she is but there's still danger everywhere - especially since her forced husband-to-be is going to school next door.
Then there's Han who also finds his way to school in Oden's Ford along with his friend Dancer. They come to learn how to harness their wizarding powers in hopes to help the clan in the coming war. But even though Han faked his death back home, he soon runs into people who know who he is and aren't happy to have him there. But as Han's power grows, I have to wonder, just who is his father?
After the ending of the first book, I expected this book to follow the same pace - maybe a bit slow at the beginning while it sets up the new locations but then BAM story and plot! But alas, 80% of this book was poor pacing and nothing happening. There was traveling to the school for both our groups, then they arrive at school and then they learn things and learn more things and this is how it goes for a majority of the book until the ending when Chima decides she needs to end the book on a cliffie and just drops bombs.
But one major thing that bothered me in this book was Raisa. Gone was the strong willed princess who knew what she wanted and who was ready to protect her Queendom. Instead, I got this whiny bratty little girl who cared more about the boys she can't have then staying on task. It was constant whine after whine about how she can't be with Amon and how can he be with someone else when she loves him even though they can't actually be together. Like, she literally wanted him to be her man on the side while she marries for duty. To hell with his happiness and what he wants! I wanted to smack her. But then, she gets over Amon because Han shows back up and suddenly she's in love with Han and wants to be with him and he's the best thing ever. But wait, there's still Micah and even though his father is evil and Micah was trying to marry her against her will, he's probably not that bad of a guy and he's a really good kisser...
I hated everything about Raisa in this book.
Han was still Han although for everything he's been through, he's still quick to trust people *cough*Crow*cough*. A lot of what happens to him could easily be avoided if he used common sense. But yet, he's one of the more interesting characters because of who he is. Who is his father? Where does his power come from? And how is he connected to the Demon King?
My favorite characters still are Dancer and Amon. I feel sorry for both of them as they are trapped in lives they don't control and surrounded by people who really don't see them. I look forward to more with the two of them. Although, I do not ship Cat/Dancer. Just no.
I'm hoping the next book picks up more and starts moving this story along.
Having run from a forced marriage, Princess Raisa finds a safe haven of sorts at school in Oden's Ford. Here she goes by the name Rebecca Morley and is under the watchful eye of her guard Amon and his cadets. No one knows who she is but there's still danger everywhere - especially since her forced husband-to-be is going to school next door.
Then there's Han who also finds his way to school in Oden's Ford along with his friend Dancer. They come to learn how to harness their wizarding powers in hopes to help the clan in the coming war. But even though Han faked his death back home, he soon runs into people who know who he is and aren't happy to have him there. But as Han's power grows, I have to wonder, just who is his father?
After the ending of the first book, I expected this book to follow the same pace - maybe a bit slow at the beginning while it sets up the new locations but then BAM story and plot! But alas, 80% of this book was poor pacing and nothing happening. There was traveling to the school for both our groups, then they arrive at school and then they learn things and learn more things and this is how it goes for a majority of the book until the ending when Chima decides she needs to end the book on a cliffie and just drops bombs.
But one major thing that bothered me in this book was Raisa. Gone was the strong willed princess who knew what she wanted and who was ready to protect her Queendom. Instead, I got this whiny bratty little girl who cared more about the boys she can't have then staying on task. It was constant whine after whine about how she can't be with Amon and how can he be with someone else when she loves him even though they can't actually be together. Like, she literally wanted him to be her man on the side while she marries for duty. To hell with his happiness and what he wants! I wanted to smack her. But then, she gets over Amon because Han shows back up and suddenly she's in love with Han and wants to be with him and he's the best thing ever. But wait, there's still Micah and even though his father is evil and Micah was trying to marry her against her will, he's probably not that bad of a guy and he's a really good kisser...
I hated everything about Raisa in this book.
Han was still Han although for everything he's been through, he's still quick to trust people *cough*Crow*cough*. A lot of what happens to him could easily be avoided if he used common sense. But yet, he's one of the more interesting characters because of who he is. Who is his father? Where does his power come from? And how is he connected to the Demon King?
My favorite characters still are Dancer and Amon. I feel sorry for both of them as they are trapped in lives they don't control and surrounded by people who really don't see them. I look forward to more with the two of them. Although, I do not ship Cat/Dancer. Just no.
I'm hoping the next book picks up more and starts moving this story along.
lillyalaine36's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
mallorypen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Much like the first novel, I found this to be slow going getting started. I was interested but not overly invested with their respective journeys to school, and really only got sucked in once they made it to Oden’s Ford.
The romance also isn’t especially compelling for me. I can see the attraction between Amon and Risa, but Han and Risa feel less convincing. Aside from “oh no, he/she’s hot” there isn’t much evidence to show their budding feelings for one another.
All that aside, I am eager to find out what happens next in book 3!
The romance also isn’t especially compelling for me. I can see the attraction between Amon and Risa, but Han and Risa feel less convincing. Aside from “oh no, he/she’s hot” there isn’t much evidence to show their budding feelings for one another.
All that aside, I am eager to find out what happens next in book 3!
anabelldimitrova's review against another edition
5.0
„Кралицата изгнаница“ е достойно продължение на поредицата „Седемте кралства“. Героите вече са представени и тепърва започват да се развиват. Синда Уилямс Чайма плете нишки, които в даден момент събират героите на едно място. До момента голяма загадка за мен е кой е Гарван и имам своята теория. Тепърва ще се разбере дали е правилна. „Кралицата изгнаница“ печели точки и заради картата, която много ми помогна да навляза в забравения от мен свят. И сега какво ще се прави? Ще се чака третата книга.
_shannara_'s review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
5.0
drowningfaithh's review against another edition
3.0
I tried. I swear I really tried to get into the book. In general, Seven Realms sounds like something I would definitely like and even come to love, eventually. But something is just not clicking with me personally. Don’t get me wrong, the book was quite… interesting, but I felt nothing. Not for the plot, the characters—seriously, I couldn’t care less for any of it. I don’t even have a champion side character (but Cat Tyburn comes close). I think it’s the writing style, maybe? I don’t know, I’m at a loss. Really. Anyway, moving on to the actual review and less rambling.
After fleeing from her supposed marriage in the Fells, Raisa comes with Amon and his triple to Wein House, a military school. Similarly, Han goes to the neighboring school for wizards Mystwerk House alongside Fire Dancer. And there, they hone their skills in their designated crafts, all the while trying to keep a low profile to remain unrecognized.
Again, there is no clear plot to the book. It’s mostly Han and Raisa adjusting to their new school, some bullies, more learning, and a lot of romances. But, there are some more easter eggs, if that’s what you want to call it, about what is to come. Tensions are high back in the Fells and the neighboring kingdoms, Tamron and Arden. Basically, more political intrigue and worldbuilding.
Another thing is that if this were a film, there would be a lot of montages. Most of the development in their skills (i.e. Raisa’s training, Han learning to use magic, etc.) and character happens off-screen. Mostly, we get a lengthy explanation or internal monologue worth a lot of paragraphs to explain their progress. Maybe I’m just nitpicking, but it really put me off. For example, whenever Han learns magic, it basically goes like this “the master teaches Han the incantation, Han repeats it, he succeeds”. That kind of thing made me feel like there was a lack of development.
Also, Han Alister doesn’t seem like an ex-street lord. Honestly, he isn’t careful and could sometimes be too trusting. How did this guy become a street lord? He seems a bit of a fool to me. Maybe it’s the territory, but still. His decisions don’t exactly scream “I was a feared street lord, cower before me”.
As for Raisa, well, I’m glad she had character development. From a sheltered princess to a capable cadet. She can fight now, apparently. A thing that irked me was the number of people who were oh so very grateful to the princess who established the Briar Rose Ministry. It seems like she’s being praised a lot for one (1) project she did for the masses. It’s literally the bare minimum. But then again, maybe that’s the message. The masses rejoice for the bare minimum.
I won’t even try to comment on the romance. Everyone keeps jumping from person to person. It’s like high school over again. Been there, done that. No, thank you. I don’t want a repeat. I’ll be here for the plot and nothing else.
Regardless of all the things that I disliked, I’m still interested to see how it all comes together and eventually ends. As I said, the book was still quite interesting, just off-putting at times.
After fleeing from her supposed marriage in the Fells, Raisa comes with Amon and his triple to Wein House, a military school. Similarly, Han goes to the neighboring school for wizards Mystwerk House alongside Fire Dancer. And there, they hone their skills in their designated crafts, all the while trying to keep a low profile to remain unrecognized.
Again, there is no clear plot to the book. It’s mostly Han and Raisa adjusting to their new school, some bullies, more learning, and a lot of romances. But, there are some more easter eggs, if that’s what you want to call it, about what is to come. Tensions are high back in the Fells and the neighboring kingdoms, Tamron and Arden. Basically, more political intrigue and worldbuilding.
Another thing is that if this were a film, there would be a lot of montages. Most of the development in their skills (i.e. Raisa’s training, Han learning to use magic, etc.) and character happens off-screen. Mostly, we get a lengthy explanation or internal monologue worth a lot of paragraphs to explain their progress. Maybe I’m just nitpicking, but it really put me off. For example, whenever Han learns magic, it basically goes like this “the master teaches Han the incantation, Han repeats it, he succeeds”. That kind of thing made me feel like there was a lack of development.
Also, Han Alister doesn’t seem like an ex-street lord. Honestly, he isn’t careful and could sometimes be too trusting. How did this guy become a street lord? He seems a bit of a fool to me. Maybe it’s the territory, but still. His decisions don’t exactly scream “I was a feared street lord, cower before me”.
As for Raisa, well, I’m glad she had character development. From a sheltered princess to a capable cadet. She can fight now, apparently. A thing that irked me was the number of people who were oh so very grateful to the princess who established the Briar Rose Ministry. It seems like she’s being praised a lot for one (1) project she did for the masses. It’s literally the bare minimum. But then again, maybe that’s the message. The masses rejoice for the bare minimum.
I won’t even try to comment on the romance. Everyone keeps jumping from person to person. It’s like high school over again. Been there, done that. No, thank you. I don’t want a repeat. I’ll be here for the plot and nothing else.
Regardless of all the things that I disliked, I’m still interested to see how it all comes together and eventually ends. As I said, the book was still quite interesting, just off-putting at times.