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lactomar's review against another edition
4.0
I don't know how I feel about this series. In the end, it was a great read, I powered through all four very quickly. Honestly, I haven't stayed up late to finish a book in a long time and The Born Queen did it for me. Awesome world building and character progression. Strong female protagonists. A great read, but a few things really bugged me primarily the chapter structure which I get into below.
A few nitpicks and major spoilers below:
I respect he was trying to keep a fantasy epic series more succinct then is typical, in large part he did an amazing job, just enough detail to keep the world rich and built out but not too bloated, but the ending was just a touch rushed and not everything got tied up in a satisfying way (hespero and stephen/black jester ending were quite abrupt and I wish they were a little more developed, I also still don't understand the whole get my daughter to be the new Briar King oh wait I'm the Briar king now, again felt abrupt).
The author also has this weird style of jumping around with chapter narrators, but then does a LOT of cliff hangers at the chapter ending, then either skip the action or time skip (or both) when you pick back up with them 4-8 chapters later. Made it very difficult to follow some of the storylines.
Regardless, still a very enjoyable read and one of the best series I've read in a long time. I would easily recommend any fan of fantasy pick them up.
A few nitpicks and major spoilers below:
Spoiler
I respect he was trying to keep a fantasy epic series more succinct then is typical, in large part he did an amazing job, just enough detail to keep the world rich and built out but not too bloated, but the ending was just a touch rushed and not everything got tied up in a satisfying way (hespero and stephen/black jester ending were quite abrupt and I wish they were a little more developed, I also still don't understand the whole get my daughter to be the new Briar King oh wait I'm the Briar king now, again felt abrupt).
The author also has this weird style of jumping around with chapter narrators, but then does a LOT of cliff hangers at the chapter ending, then either skip the action or time skip (or both) when you pick back up with them 4-8 chapters later. Made it very difficult to follow some of the storylines.
Regardless, still a very enjoyable read and one of the best series I've read in a long time. I would easily recommend any fan of fantasy pick them up.
mastersal's review against another edition
4.0
June was a slumpy (is that a word?) IRL month for me which made me not want to read. This is when I know the world is ending or something is broken in me (or both). Thankfully, I decided to give in and get this from Audible which is probably the only reason why I managed to read instead of doom scrolling.
The audio generally worked for me - the voice the narrator did for Aspar did come across as terse. The voice he did for the women in the book was a little odd in the beginning but I settled into it without really much issue.
This book also reminded me why series should be read closer together because otherwise I forget everything that happened. When I started this book I was quite confused for the first 50 pages - so I would recommend picking this up quite quickly after Book 3.
Character wise, there were too many POVs so some got short shrift. It’s as if the author dropped them to save space. It did intellectually annoy me because he should have not included these in the first place but honestly, since these were not favourites, I didn't mind too much. I was surprised as how much I liked Stephan’s POV here - he was not a favourite last time.
There was also too much romance in these series which stood in for meaningful relationships. All the characters had a love interest - some introduced at the last minute in the previous books and some here. It was all kinds of ridiculous - so much so that I went from annoyed to amused. I spent some time speculating which new character would end up with which. Quite inadvertently funny. However, I did miss other shades of relationships here. Where were the epic, ride-or-die friendships. Except Anne and Austra (thank god for them), it’s like the author forgot that other character dynamics could apply. It did keep me from emotionally investing in most of the characters as they seemed quite fake because the device of pairing them up was awkward. It didn’t raise the stakes for me or make me care.
The plotting in the book was a little frenetic as there was a lot to wrap up in the book. So much so that you really can’t pause this book at all to take a breath. Some threads were dropped and some reveals came too late in the overall arc of the series.
Even though I was not emotionally invested in any of the characters really, I enjoyed my time with the book. It was a strong adventure fantasy novel which actually WRAPPED UP (amazing!!). There were some timey-wimey elements which I really enjoyed. Also a little too much “THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP” for me not to be amused.
This is definitely a more traditional fantasy but it ticks along which I appreciate. I like what the author did and he definitely didn’t overstretch. Perhaps that is a lack of ambition but I liked the focus on telling a complete story. The ending also accelerated things and ended with a bang.
The ending really got me - it was lovely, hopeful and sad all at the same time. As a result, I am giving the book 4.5 stars. Objectively this book needed another 100 pages to flush out some of the revelations but the sucker punch in the end got me.
Also, I bought these books so many years ago and now they are finished. Good job me. Half star for that too
The audio generally worked for me - the voice the narrator did for Aspar did come across as terse. The voice he did for the women in the book was a little odd in the beginning but I settled into it without really much issue.
This book also reminded me why series should be read closer together because otherwise I forget everything that happened. When I started this book I was quite confused for the first 50 pages - so I would recommend picking this up quite quickly after Book 3.
Character wise, there were too many POVs so some got short shrift. It’s as if the author dropped them to save space. It did intellectually annoy me because he should have not included these in the first place but honestly, since these were not favourites, I didn't mind too much. I was surprised as how much I liked Stephan’s POV here - he was not a favourite last time.
Spoiler
For example, the author has sidelined the music composer POV, which made sense since that was the weakest in the previous book. In book 3 it seemed to exist only to show Robert evil on the page and give him something to do. This could have been excised from the world-building without much issue for me.There was also too much romance in these series which stood in for meaningful relationships. All the characters had a love interest - some introduced at the last minute in the previous books and some here. It was all kinds of ridiculous - so much so that I went from annoyed to amused. I spent some time speculating which new character would end up with which. Quite inadvertently funny. However, I did miss other shades of relationships here. Where were the epic, ride-or-die friendships. Except Anne and Austra (thank god for them), it’s like the author forgot that other character dynamics could apply. It did keep me from emotionally investing in most of the characters as they seemed quite fake because the device of pairing them up was awkward. It didn’t raise the stakes for me or make me care.
Spoiler
For example, the greftson falling in love with Winna - I think it was meant to make the reader care when he died but I was so glad because I found his pining over her stupid. He had no other personality - making him chivalrous would have made him more interesting. Instead, he was in love with Winna and therefore was helping. Sure - meh.The plotting in the book was a little frenetic as there was a lot to wrap up in the book. So much so that you really can’t pause this book at all to take a breath. Some threads were dropped and some reveals came too late in the overall arc of the series.
Even though I was not emotionally invested in any of the characters really, I enjoyed my time with the book. It was a strong adventure fantasy novel which actually WRAPPED UP (amazing!!). There were some timey-wimey elements which I really enjoyed. Also a little too much “THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP” for me not to be amused.
This is definitely a more traditional fantasy but it ticks along which I appreciate. I like what the author did and he definitely didn’t overstretch. Perhaps that is a lack of ambition but I liked the focus on telling a complete story. The ending also accelerated things and ended with a bang.
Spoiler
And even though a lot of the main cast survived, there was a poignancy to the ending which finally won me over in the emotional stakes. I was expecting Anne to die but I was glad she didn’t - she was a child who never got to live. Not sure what kind of life she will have but it was nice to see her with her brother.The ending really got me - it was lovely, hopeful and sad all at the same time. As a result, I am giving the book 4.5 stars. Objectively this book needed another 100 pages to flush out some of the revelations but the sucker punch in the end got me.
Also, I bought these books so many years ago and now they are finished. Good job me. Half star for that too
lesserjoke's review
3.0
This high fantasy quartet never quite regains the propulsive rush of its initial entry, and there are a few too many dramatic reversals and reveals in the lengthy climax of this last novel for each to land with the impact that it might otherwise individually deserve. Still, author Greg Keyes has found some really neat ways to twist the mythology and magical rules of the setting, and if the human heart of the characters gets a little lost in the shuffle at times, on balance I'd say it's almost worth it for how he manages to bring forward figures from the epic past that he's built up over the course of the series. (That would be like if Isildur had become a major player in the battle of Helm's Deep, or Aegon the Conqueror were summoned to assist his descendant Daenerys. The only story in this genre that I've seen try anything near as daring is The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant.)
All told I have to concede that this volume is probably the weakest of its sequence, but it delivers a satisfying conclusion to all the various plot threads amid the same pulse-pounding action, political intrigue, and rich worldbuilding that have made these books so fun overall. I'm glad they generally hold up as well as I had suspected for this reread -- despite this title ultimately flagging a bit -- and I remain fairly puzzled that they're so obscure today.
[Content warning for gore and rape including threat to children.]
Find me on Patreon | Goodreads | Blog | Twitter
All told I have to concede that this volume is probably the weakest of its sequence, but it delivers a satisfying conclusion to all the various plot threads amid the same pulse-pounding action, political intrigue, and rich worldbuilding that have made these books so fun overall. I'm glad they generally hold up as well as I had suspected for this reread -- despite this title ultimately flagging a bit -- and I remain fairly puzzled that they're so obscure today.
[Content warning for gore and rape including threat to children.]
Find me on Patreon | Goodreads | Blog | Twitter
ted_funsten's review
4.0
very busy conclusion to an excellent series.
but it was difficult to recall all the plot threads Born Queen picked up. In a perfect world I would have re-read The Blood Knight before reading this.
but it was difficult to recall all the plot threads Born Queen picked up. In a perfect world I would have re-read The Blood Knight before reading this.
hank's review
5.0
There are flaws....but the epilogue made me forget all of them. I feel like my reviews lately lead with examples of the opposite of my rating and then I go on to how I really feel. I am not sure what that says about me but this will be no different.
I felt like Keyes suddenly felt the need to wrap up the series which I applaud but as others have said it felt rushed and tough to follow at the end. The middle also felt like there were leaps in understanding that I would have prefered to be a bit more of a slow reveal. Lastly and more damingly, there were a couple of deaths that did not have the emotional impact I think they deserved because everything including the writing was so hectic.
With those qualifications, I loved the series and the last book. There was heartbreak and tragedy along with some semblance of victory. I am sad about Keyes' treatment of Anne and Stephen but overjoyed with. Aspar's fate seemed right and would have brought tears to my eyes if I weren't so manly. More spoiler thoughts
Keyes' other books seem uninteresting and not great so I think my reading of him stops here but it was well worth it.
I felt like Keyes suddenly felt the need to wrap up the series which I applaud but as others have said it felt rushed and tough to follow at the end. The middle also felt like there were leaps in understanding that I would have prefered to be a bit more of a slow reveal. Lastly and more damingly, there were a couple of deaths that did not have the emotional impact I think they deserved because everything including the writing was so hectic.
With those qualifications, I loved the series and the last book. There was heartbreak and tragedy along with some semblance of victory. I am sad about Keyes' treatment of Anne and Stephen but overjoyed with
Spoiler
Neil and Brinna, Austra and CazioSpoiler
Murielle's and z'Accato's deaths were not as tragic and fleshed out as I wanted them to be but nothing is perfect. It seemed like Keyes was setting up consequences for Anne's spoiled and calloused behavior throughout the series, doesn't mean I had to like it when it came true.Keyes' other books seem uninteresting and not great so I think my reading of him stops here but it was well worth it.
evenshadow's review
3.0
I adored this series, but the ending felt rushed. He didn't leave any loose ends, but it was very weird and I felt somewhat unsatisfied by it.
loxleyhall's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.25
michellemm85's review
3.0
3/6 I suppose
Spoilers
I'm glad Anne didn't destroy the world I suppose, though it was a close thing. None of my ships came to be so, I didn't much care towards the end lol. I did like Cape Chavel and Anne went through all the trouble to make him king, so I don't know why she didn't just marry him and then betroth her child to Hansa and instead has to marry the King... ( I get why, I'm just saying lol)
Actually hated Stephen/Black Jester, though I do wish we got to read more of his translations of Virgenya's journal. THAT was interesting at least. Didn't like Aspar either, but him being the new Briar King made sense.
Maybe it was because I was skimming, but did Anne give up all her power? Also, did Austra and Cazio get married? Did Anne make him a duke? I both want to know and at the same time don't care lol
I'm apathetic about this at the moment.
I did like how we never know who was "good" as they were each fighting for their own thing, though I'm sure everyone had the character they were rooting for. Will I read this series again? Probably not, tbh. There were parts that I liked, but there was also parts that were a slog. SO maybe I'd just mark all the parts I liked and only re-read those. I'll keep the books for a little bit and made a determination at a later date lol
Spoilers
I'm glad Anne didn't destroy the world I suppose, though it was a close thing. None of my ships came to be so, I didn't much care towards the end lol. I did like Cape Chavel and Anne went through all the trouble to make him king, so I don't know why she didn't just marry him and then betroth her child to Hansa and instead has to marry the King... ( I get why, I'm just saying lol)
Actually hated Stephen/Black Jester, though I do wish we got to read more of his translations of Virgenya's journal. THAT was interesting at least. Didn't like Aspar either, but him being the new Briar King made sense.
Maybe it was because I was skimming, but did Anne give up all her power? Also, did Austra and Cazio get married? Did Anne make him a duke? I both want to know and at the same time don't care lol
I'm apathetic about this at the moment.
I did like how we never know who was "good" as they were each fighting for their own thing, though I'm sure everyone had the character they were rooting for. Will I read this series again? Probably not, tbh. There were parts that I liked, but there was also parts that were a slog. SO maybe I'd just mark all the parts I liked and only re-read those. I'll keep the books for a little bit and made a determination at a later date lol
glowbump's review
adventurous
inspiring
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5
wynwicket's review
4.0
And the Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone saga comes to an end with a few pleasant surprises, a few less pleasant surprises, and a few oh-my-goodness-I-can't-believe-that-HAPPENED.
On one hand, I think the plot got a bit too complicated for its own good. On the other, I thoroughly enjoyed some of the character arcs, and the ending was epic in every sense of the word. Good stuff.
On one hand, I think the plot got a bit too complicated for its own good. On the other, I thoroughly enjoyed some of the character arcs, and the ending was epic in every sense of the word. Good stuff.