The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
A review by lizzuplans
Queen of Ashes by May Freighter
fast-paced
4.0
I flew through book 2 in the Empire of the Shattered Crown. Again, I really liked it but I did not love it.
But, another gorgeous cover!
It was fun to hang out with Emilia, Thessian, Laurence, and their merry band of misfits again.
While I would have thought the story would continue in Emilia and Thessian working towards their goal of becoming a good regent and/or emperor, this book was more focussed on the “colouring in” of a lot of the magical elements of this new world. Which was fun but which was also a bit chaotic at times. The amount of added magical creatures was interesting to read about, but at the same time had me wondering when the focus went back on the lot.
Perhaps the next book will be the one to neatly tie everything together.
Regarding the prophecy that made Emilia into the Cursed Princess, I wonder if it is a self-fulfilling prophecy in a way?
***NOTE. Not SPOILERS per se, but some PLOT MUSINGS in this paragraph.***
Our world/adult Emilia (though I bet she would have a different name originally) read about this side character, princess Emilia, in the fantasy series called The Cruel Empire. The church of that book had deemed the princess to be cursed as she would bring about the end of the country or perhaps even the world.
Of course all valid for a magical world.
BUT. What if princess Emilia only received this prophecy because “our Emilia”, the reincarnated!adult!Emilia, is indeed the one to bring about the end? As in, helping Thessian? Our Emilia has been actively working on this since she was a child, so it would make sense to me. Plus, about halfway in the book, a raving follower of the church’s teaching says, “You are a calamity, a demon, a being that should <b>not exist in this world</b>.” (Emphasis mine.) Which is not really true for princess Emilia but I feel it is true for reincarnated!adult!Emilia!
It will be cool if we get to find out more about how and why she was transported to this magical land…
***Done with thinking out loud.***
3.5 stars rounded up. Looking forward to book three in this series, Queen of Hope!
I received an ARC of this book (thanks!) and these are my own opinions.
But, another gorgeous cover!
It was fun to hang out with Emilia, Thessian, Laurence, and their merry band of misfits again.
While I would have thought the story would continue in Emilia and Thessian working towards their goal of becoming a good regent and/or emperor, this book was more focussed on the “colouring in” of a lot of the magical elements of this new world. Which was fun but which was also a bit chaotic at times. The amount of added magical creatures was interesting to read about, but at the same time had me wondering when the focus went back on the lot.
Perhaps the next book will be the one to neatly tie everything together.
Regarding the prophecy that made Emilia into the Cursed Princess, I wonder if it is a self-fulfilling prophecy in a way?
***NOTE. Not SPOILERS per se, but some PLOT MUSINGS in this paragraph.***
Of course all valid for a magical world.
BUT. What if princess Emilia only received this prophecy because “our Emilia”, the reincarnated!adult!Emilia, is indeed the one to bring about the end? As in, helping Thessian? Our Emilia has been actively working on this since she was a child, so it would make sense to me. Plus, about halfway in the book, a raving follower of the church’s teaching says, “You are a calamity, a demon, a being that should <b>not exist in this world</b>.” (Emphasis mine.) Which is not really true for princess Emilia but I feel it is true for reincarnated!adult!Emilia!
It will be cool if we get to find out more about how and why she was transported to this magical land…
***Done with thinking out loud.***
3.5 stars rounded up. Looking forward to book three in this series, Queen of Hope!
I received an ARC of this book (thanks!) and these are my own opinions.