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bookswithjk's review
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
While lush and vivid in its prose and worldbuilding, I was a bit disappointed at how pushed back the women in this book were. The title of the book is “A Dark Queen Rises”, and yet we spend a long time focusing on male violence and male conquests. I had to skim pages of Tyrak’s fights at the end of the book because I wanted to see more of Krushni.
I am still looking forward to the finale though (is it true this series was changed from 10/12 books to just three books?!). I’d love to see the princess from the first book meet up with the dark queen. Based on the title, I will assume they are!
I am still looking forward to the finale though (is it true this series was changed from 10/12 books to just three books?!). I’d love to see the princess from the first book meet up with the dark queen. Based on the title, I will assume they are!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, and Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
humanpuke's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The story is still interesting, and I liked seeing more of Jarsun and his evil machinations but man the battle/action scenes really pulled me out of the story.
Each battle/conquest was the most EVIL the most CRAZY the most UNSTOPPABLE force of evil to ever evil to the point that it felt cartoonish. We were supposed to be scared for the protagonists in each encounter but it just felt overwritten and it removed all the tension.
There were so many confrontations that I was never worried about Krushita or any of the other main characters. It just felt repetitive.
I love the world and the characters are interesting. The battle scenes were just a big miss for me and this book has a lot of battle scenes.
Each battle/conquest was the most EVIL the most CRAZY the most UNSTOPPABLE force of evil to ever evil to the point that it felt cartoonish. We were supposed to be scared for the protagonists in each encounter but it just felt overwritten and it removed all the tension.
There were so many confrontations that I was never worried about Krushita or any of the other main characters. It just felt repetitive.
I love the world and the characters are interesting. The battle scenes were just a big miss for me and this book has a lot of battle scenes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Murder, and War
kylieqrada's review
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5 ⭐s. This was, dare I say it, even better than the first one. And no fatphobia?!?!? You go, Glen Coco!!!! I'm v excited to finish out the trilogy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child death, and Murder
Minor: Domestic abuse, Rape, and Slavery
catapocalypse's review
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I greatly enjoyed the first book, but unfortunately this one dragged a bit for me.
This is the second installment in Banker's Burnt Empire saga, and actually takes place concurrently with the events of the first book. We see this timeline from perspectives in the lands Jarsun is building into his Reygistan Empire, where the Burnt Empire of Hastinaga is only a distant power. Most of the narrative is dedicated to the perspectives of Jarsun's wife Aqreen and daughter Krushita as they flee from him, as well as the perspective of Tyrak, a boorish crown-prince who inherits a monstrous legacy.
The title and commonly posted blurbs/synopses imply that the main focus is on Krushita, but Tyrak's portions take up at least half of the book. Unfortunately, I didn't find him very enjoyable. He's not poorly written; the fragile ego of an insecure and often ignorant man causing anger issues, violence, and oppression is very realistic. Maybe too realistic, because with so many real life issues originating from such people, spending so much time with a fictional one was not appealing to me. I'd hoped for much more time with Krushita and Aqreen.
Still, it was interesting to see what was going on in Mraashk, Reygar, etc. during the events of the first book. And hearing interesting perspectives about the Krushan from those far removed from the Burnt Empire itself. Though I didn't enjoy all the time with Tyrak, it wasn't a bad book, and I do look forward to the next in the series.
This is the second installment in Banker's Burnt Empire saga, and actually takes place concurrently with the events of the first book. We see this timeline from perspectives in the lands Jarsun is building into his Reygistan Empire, where the Burnt Empire of Hastinaga is only a distant power. Most of the narrative is dedicated to the perspectives of Jarsun's wife Aqreen and daughter Krushita as they flee from him, as well as the perspective of Tyrak, a boorish crown-prince who inherits a monstrous legacy.
The title and commonly posted blurbs/synopses imply that the main focus is on Krushita, but Tyrak's portions take up at least half of the book. Unfortunately, I didn't find him very enjoyable. He's not poorly written; the fragile ego of an insecure and often ignorant man causing anger issues, violence, and oppression is very realistic. Maybe too realistic, because with so many real life issues originating from such people, spending so much time with a fictional one was not appealing to me. I'd hoped for much more time with Krushita and Aqreen.
Still, it was interesting to see what was going on in Mraashk, Reygar, etc. during the events of the first book. And hearing interesting perspectives about the Krushan from those far removed from the Burnt Empire itself. Though I didn't enjoy all the time with Tyrak, it wasn't a bad book, and I do look forward to the next in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Domestic abuse, Rape, Slavery, Vomit, and Trafficking
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