Scan barcode
A review by restless
The True Queen by Zen Cho
4.0
This was a fun and very readable sequel to [b:Sorcerer to the Crown|23943137|Sorcerer to the Crown (Sorcerer Royal, #1)|Zen Cho|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1430239646l/23943137._SY75_.jpg|43548024]. There was excellent rep from Janda Baik, and we get to revisit some of our favourite cast members from the previous novel.
That said, it felt like this book had less to say about racial relationships and oppression. I didn't come away feeling like I had learned as much as I did from the first novel. True, Cho makes several incisive observations about colonialism and power, but these weren't the central focus of the plot.
I will also add that this really didn't feel like an F-F story. True, but we didn't spend enough time in the head of either person to really understand what drew them together. I will contrast this with the relationship between , whom I definitely shipped towards the end of the novel.
In fairness, I think this may be a reflection of my changing standards as a reader. I am getting to a place where I would like my queer characters to have a meaningful relationship with their identity. And while
This isn't to say that the queer rep isn't well done. There is a moment towards the end of the book where - but I suppose I was just hoping for more.
That said, it felt like this book had less to say about racial relationships and oppression. I didn't come away feeling like I had learned as much as I did from the first novel. True, Cho makes several incisive observations about colonialism and power, but these weren't the central focus of the plot.
I will also add that this really didn't feel like an F-F story. True,
Spoiler
Henrietta and Muna eventually fall in loveSpoiler
Prunella and Zacharias in the first bookIn fairness, I think this may be a reflection of my changing standards as a reader. I am getting to a place where I would like my queer characters to have a meaningful relationship with their identity. And while
Spoiler
Cho does a good job of implying this conflict with Henrietta, we don't spend enough time in her head to really witness it.This isn't to say that the queer rep isn't well done. There is a moment towards the end of the book where