A review by merlin_reads
The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima
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.