Review #612
I finally finished this sequel! It took me a while to get through because it’s a bit slow. I think I also took a break since I started drafting my next novel. I’m not quite sure if I liked the first or this sequel better. Without remembering what I rated “The Queen’s Rising,” I’ll rate this one a 4.0/5
Brienna definitely goes through a lot.
Chapter 2 started with Cartier’s point of view which didn’t happen in the first book.
I feel like Cartier having memory whispers from his ancestors is just a duplicate of the plot of the first book.
After chapter 11 I’m a bit bored. There’s too much talk of potential alliances and allegiances that I don’t really care about. There are barely any scenes with Cartier & Brienna to father and the pace is too slow.
At the end of Part 2 I don’t blame them for being played by little Ewan. It shows they’re not heartless.
At the halfway mark, I’m losing interest a bit in the momentum. When the plot is only about serving revenge and justice I’m not as invested because I want the main characters to have another goal other than seeing the evil guys be defeated.
The second half was more action so I didn’t take as many notes. What surprised me was how early on the “big climatic” moment happened. I thought there’d be another KABLAM scene but it fizzled away to conclusion & resolution.
“I love the heart that is within you… I love the spirit you are forged from. If you were a storm, I would lie down and rest in your rain. If you were a river, I would drink from your currents. If you were a poem, I would never cease to read you. I adore the girl you once were, and I love the woman you have become.”