I have a Shelf Addiction book club read for you today. We met online and chatted about this last week. Read on to see what I thought about this fairy-tale retelling with lots of buzz around it.
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: February 16, 2016
Format: ebook
Pages: 387
Source: Library
Genre: Fairy-tale Retelling, YA Fantasy
Review Date: April 18, 2016
Rating: 2 bookmarks
Synopsis: Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen.
In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman…and bring her Lorelai’s heart.
But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose.
Release Date: February 16, 2016
Format: ebook
Pages: 387
Source: Library
Genre: Fairy-tale Retelling, YA Fantasy
Review Date: April 18, 2016
Rating: 2 bookmarks
Synopsis: Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen.
In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman…and bring her Lorelai’s heart.
But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose.
I've included a quick YouTube video featuring the author discussing The Shadow Queen. The video really had me excited for the title so it saddens me to say that this book came in at a 2.5. Since I don't do half ratings, I seriously had to weigh if I should round up or round down. I hate to say it, but I went with rounding down and let me tell you why. First, I hate to report this rating as this book was made my highly anticipated book likes of 2016. So of course naturally had high hopes. Second, not only is this book inspired by Snow White, it IS Snow White with dragons and witches. Sadly I didn't find that the world building was strong enough to support the fantasy aspects.
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Overall I liked Lorelai's character, but I wanted more from her. Same for Kol. He was nice enough, they both were, but nothing to write home about. I wanted to see more of him as a dragon. I wanted more relationship development other than the "we can hear each others thoughts" insta-love cop out. Yes, cop out. It's too easy to explain a quick connection due to hearing each others thoughts.
I wanted to feel like I was transported to another land, but the world building was also sort of glazed over same as the relationship building. I actually had a slightly hard time telling exactly what time this story took place in. Was it 15th century or 17th? Who knows. It could have been mentioned, but clearly I missed it. |
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At one point, I wondered if the author made this story more simplistic for the sake of it being young adult title. If so, that's too bad because I thought there was so much potential here. With that said, it is indeed a younger feeling YA novel.
I know that it probably sounds like I outright didn't like the book, but that's not the case. It was good enough to finish. I read it pretty quickly and I was invested enough to see what the outcome was. But if you were to ask me about the details this book 6 months from now...well that's a different story. With so many books to read and a limited time, if it wasn't for book club, I probably would have stopped reading a few chapters in. With that said it wasn't dreadful, it just wasn't that memorable either.
If you like stories packed full of layers and intermingling plot lines, then I suggest you pass on this one.
Happy Reading,
~Tamara
I know that it probably sounds like I outright didn't like the book, but that's not the case. It was good enough to finish. I read it pretty quickly and I was invested enough to see what the outcome was. But if you were to ask me about the details this book 6 months from now...well that's a different story. With so many books to read and a limited time, if it wasn't for book club, I probably would have stopped reading a few chapters in. With that said it wasn't dreadful, it just wasn't that memorable either.
If you like stories packed full of layers and intermingling plot lines, then I suggest you pass on this one.
Happy Reading,
~Tamara
Get the Kindle version here: 
