Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Independently Published/Evil Eye Concepts, Inc
Pages: 570
Release Date: March 15, 2022
Haven’t read the previous novels? Check out my reviews of From Blood and Ash, A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire, and The Crown of Gilded Bones.
From the desperation of golden crowns…
Casteel Da’Neer knows all too well that very few are as cunning or vicious as the Blood Queen, but no one, not even him, could’ve prepared for the staggering revelations. The magnitude of what the Blood Queen has done is almost unthinkable.
And born of mortal flesh…
Nothing will stop Poppy from freeing her King and destroying everything the Blood Crown stands for. With the strength of the Primal of Life’s guards behind her, and the support of the wolven, Poppy must convince the Atlantian generals to make war her way—because there can be no retreat this time. Not if she has any hope of building a future where both kingdoms can reside in peace.
A great primal power rises…
Together, Poppy and Casteel must embrace traditions old and new to safeguard those they hold dear—to protect those who cannot defend themselves. But war is only the beginning. Ancient primal powers have already stirred, revealing the horror of what began eons ago. To end what the Blood Queen has begun, Poppy might have to become what she has been prophesied to be—what she fears the most.
As the Harbinger of Death and Destruction.
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My review will NOT have spoilers for The War of Two Queens, however there will be minor spoilers for the previous novels in the series.
The War of Two Queens slows down the pace as Poppy wrestles with the events at the end of The Crown of Gilded Bones. Poppy’s sole focus is saving Cas from the Blood Queen while advancing the Atlantian army.
I really enjoyed this slow pace as it allows readers to settle back into the world with the information revealed at the end of The Crown of Gilded Bones as well as A Shadow in the Ember. Poppy’s emotions bleed through the page. Her devastation at Cas being taken hostage feels visceral as it drives Poppy forward in the opening chapters of the novel.
Armentrout has a lot of accomplish in The War of Two Queens. Namely, she has to bring together the world building established in the previous novels while setting up what’s to come in the next books all while playing within the rules of A Shadow in the Ember without revealing too much. Armentrout has expanded the world considerably, so at times I was confused. However, as the novel hit its climax everything became clear.
One of my biggest annoyances with The Crown of Gilded Bones was the overuse of the same jokes, namely the questions and stabbing remarks. I’m happy to say that even though they still make an appearance, they are toned down and not so repetitive and in your face.
Overall, The War of Two Queens intensifies the tension, the stakes, and the world as the characters are ushered into what feels like a new world but is still grounded in the characters readers have grown to love.
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Will you be reading The War of Two Queens?
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