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A review by flowerpaladin
A Queen of Gilded Horns by Amanda Joy
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-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
5.0
I enjoyed this book every much as the first one! I'm honestly disappointed it's over, and it's all tied up so neatly at the end that I fear there won't be a book 3. I don't want to let some of these characters go, especially Baccha and Isa. I have to say, this book's strength is its world-building, though of course the characters are fun to follow and root for, too. But the khaemir people are incredibly cool, and it's refreshing to see a book position humans as the colonizers. I did hope to learn more about the fae and the bloodkin, but alas. Book 3? Please?
A few nitpicks... the alternating POVs, with Eva still being in first person, were a little jarring, but in all honesty, I don't know how else it could have been done? If anything, I'd almost prefer to retroactively go back and see book 1 in alternating POVs just for consistency, and put Eva in third person as well. I think Eva's characterization suffered a little when compared with her sister, who has a much bigger role here. Isa is a conflicted, interesting, sympathetic character, which contrasts with Eva who is brash and young, and yes, we root for her, but she's a little too... perfect at times?
Another thing I would appreciate a bit more are the romances being better fleshed out. Eva and Aketo are cute but they mostly do lots of intense moments where they're about to kiss, and I'd maybe like to see them talk more? Isa and Aketo's brother (I forget his name) were fine, but it just happened so quickly... I find them interesting and would like to see how their time together plays out. Lastly, Falun and Baccha... I'm really, honestly, quite disappointed with how little time was paid to this relationship. Yes, it was cute the couple times Eva teased Falun about Baccha, but then we literally saw no indication that Baccha felt the same way. The ending was kind of a surprise, albeit a pleasant surprise.
STILL. 5.0 star book!!!!! Can't wait to read more from this author!
A few nitpicks... the alternating POVs, with Eva still being in first person, were a little jarring, but in all honesty, I don't know how else it could have been done? If anything, I'd almost prefer to retroactively go back and see book 1 in alternating POVs just for consistency, and put Eva in third person as well. I think Eva's characterization suffered a little when compared with her sister, who has a much bigger role here. Isa is a conflicted, interesting, sympathetic character, which contrasts with Eva who is brash and young, and yes, we root for her, but she's a little too... perfect at times?
Another thing I would appreciate a bit more are the romances being better fleshed out. Eva and Aketo are cute but they mostly do lots of intense moments where they're about to kiss, and I'd maybe like to see them talk more? Isa and Aketo's brother (I forget his name) were fine, but it just happened so quickly... I find them interesting and would like to see how their time together plays out. Lastly, Falun and Baccha... I'm really, honestly, quite disappointed with how little time was paid to this relationship. Yes, it was cute the couple times Eva teased Falun about Baccha, but then we literally saw no indication that Baccha felt the same way. The ending was kind of a surprise, albeit a pleasant surprise.
STILL. 5.0 star book!!!!! Can't wait to read more from this author!