A review by plumpaperbacks
Queen of Volts, by Amanda Foody
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
After how King of Fools ended, I was extremely nervous for this book, and rightfully so. From cover to cover, Queen of Volts was full of action, twists, and emotion, everything I love in series finales. I laughed and grieved and feared alongside the characters, hoping for the best but expecting the worst.
Foody expertly managed the main plot and all of the subplots, always keeping the story intriguing. There were five narrators and numerous side characters, but I was never bored or confused. Even when I was reading from someone’s perspective that didn’t interest me as much as Enne’s or Levi’s, I was entertained. By the end of the book, I was invested in literally everyone’s lives and relationships and well-being.
And speaking of Enne and Levi, oh my god, these two. I can’t put into words how much pain they caused me as I read this book. The miscommunication and repressed feelings and angst and yearning were nearly the end of me. You know how in the movie Moana, when Heihei realizes they’re on a boat in the middle of the ocean, he just screams and screams? That was me internally every time Enne and Levi almost made up, almost made out, and then got interrupted somehow or upset with each other. As if the intensity of the situation wasn’t stressful enough, I was also suffering from all of the romantic and sexual tension between these two.
I loved this book so much. Even though it was frequently painful, it also reminded me why I loved the series. I can confidently say these books are on my all-time favorites list, and the characters will always hold a special place in my heart. Please read The Shadow Game trilogy; just make sure to buckle in first, ‘cause it’s a wild ride.
Representation
Foody expertly managed the main plot and all of the subplots, always keeping the story intriguing. There were five narrators and numerous side characters, but I was never bored or confused. Even when I was reading from someone’s perspective that didn’t interest me as much as Enne’s or Levi’s, I was entertained. By the end of the book, I was invested in literally everyone’s lives and relationships and well-being.
And speaking of Enne and Levi, oh my god, these two. I can’t put into words how much pain they caused me as I read this book. The miscommunication and repressed feelings and angst and yearning were nearly the end of me. You know how in the movie Moana, when Heihei realizes they’re on a boat in the middle of the ocean, he just screams and screams? That was me internally every time Enne and Levi almost made up, almost made out, and then got interrupted somehow or upset with each other. As if the intensity of the situation wasn’t stressful enough, I was also suffering from all of the romantic and sexual tension between these two.
I loved this book so much. Even though it was frequently painful, it also reminded me why I loved the series. I can confidently say these books are on my all-time favorites list, and the characters will always hold a special place in my heart. Please read The Shadow Game trilogy; just make sure to buckle in first, ‘cause it’s a wild ride.
Representation
- Black bisexual protagonist
- side characters of color
- queer side characters (includes gay, lesbian and bisexual rep)
- two sapphic side romances (f/f)
- achillean side romance (m/m)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Violence, Gun violence, and Blood
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Grief
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
One character has PTSD and another has depression. Both are noticeably present but not a major focus of the story.