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The Sacred Throne #2
The Queen of Crows: Sacred Throne, Book 2
Myke Cole, star of CBS's Hunted and author of the Shadow Ops series, returns with book two of the Sacred Throne The Queen of Crows.
In this epic fantasy sequel, Heloise stands tall against overwhelming odds - crippling injuries, religious tyrants - and continues her journey from obscurity to greatness with the help of alchemically empowered armour and an unbreakable spirit. No longer just a shell-shocked girl, she is now a figure of revolution whose cause grows ever stronger. But the time for hiding underground is over.
Heloise must face the tyrannical Order and win freedom for her people.
In this epic fantasy sequel, Heloise stands tall against overwhelming odds - crippling injuries, religious tyrants - and continues her journey from obscurity to greatness with the help of alchemically empowered armour and an unbreakable spirit. No longer just a shell-shocked girl, she is now a figure of revolution whose cause grows ever stronger. But the time for hiding underground is over.
Heloise must face the tyrannical Order and win freedom for her people.
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First published September 18, 2018
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About the author
Myke Cole
26 books1,737 followersAs a security contractor, government civilian and military officer, Myke Cole’s career has run the gamut from Counterterrorism to Cyber Warfare to Federal Law Enforcement. He’s done three tours in Iraq and was recalled to serve during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. After hunting terrorists and criminals in real life, he kept up the job on TV, first tracking fugitives on CBS’ 2017 show Hunted, and UFOs on Discovery Channel’s 2019 show Contact.
All that conflict can wear a guy out. Thank goodness for fantasy novels, comic books, late night games of Dungeons and Dragons and lots of angst fueled writing.
All that conflict can wear a guy out. Thank goodness for fantasy novels, comic books, late night games of Dungeons and Dragons and lots of angst fueled writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews
September 18, 2018
ARC provided by Tor in exchange for an honest review.
1.) The Armored Saint ★★★★★
“I want to live in a world where everyone, no matter who they are, dies from growing old, and not because someone else killed them for their own good.”
The Armored Saint was my second favorite ARC that I read in 2017. It will still, without a doubt, make my best of 2018 list come December. But for some reason this second book just didn’t captivate me and wow me the way that book one did. I still really enjoyed this, and Myke Cole’s writing is so damn good that I could highlight half of this large novella, but I just didn’t love The Queen of Crows the same way I did The Armored Saint.
Me and Petrik were discussing this book after our buddy read, and we both feel like maybe it is because we let six+ months pass in-between picking this next installment up. The Queen of Crows starts off with quite the bang. Actually, the bangs just keep coming. So much happens at the start of this book that it somehow makes it hard to connect with Heloise. If the things that happened to her in this book happened at the end of The Armored Saint, I know I would have been crying and been an emotional wreck in general. But I just felt such a disconnect because they happened right off the bat in this book. Which again, could totally be my fault for not rereading the first book before jumping into this one.
But as I said above, this book immediately starts out right after the events of The Armored Saint. Heloise is now the face of a budding rebellion, even though not everyone wants to follow her. The Order is a group of religious tyrants that do horrible things to the wizards in this world, and to the people that are protecting and/or harboring the wizards in this world. But the Order also just does cruel and heartless things to do cruel and heartless things, you know, like most dictatorships. And in the first book, Heloise not only befriends a wizard, but does something so incredible that she is now very wanted by The Order.
“When they’d beaten the Order before, they’d had a wizard with them. Now, there was only Heloise, her machine, and the supposed favor of the divine Emperor.”
This action-packed novella centers around Heloise, her family, and what is left of her village, trying to get some sense of stability and safety back in their lives. But they meet a lot of new people while fleeing from the only home most of them have only ever know. I loved the introduction of the new people that Heloise meets in this book. The Traveling People were amazing, and I loved every single scene with them in it, especially Mother Leahlabel. Also, Myke weaves in such an important conversation about the prejudices and the stereotypes that we put on people from cultures we are ignorant about.
Heloise and her people spend the majority of this book prepping for a siege. Most people think the most difficult part of a siege is fortification and keeping your people unharmed. But Heloise realizes quickly the other important elements of a siege: clean water, food, clothes, medications, wood, and everything else you need to live a normal life. Oh, and loyalty. You need a whole lot of trust and loyalty.
And even though I didn’t love this installment as much as The Armored Saint, both of these books just feel empowering, especially reading as a young woman in today’s world. How so many people are unwilling to follow Heloise just because she’s a young adult girl. How people will come up with every excuse in the world to not believe a young adult girl. How sometimes people fear nothing more in this world than a young adult girl.
“I don’t want to lose anyone else. Not to the Order, not to the road, and not because you stand on pride because it’s not a man grown leading the way for once.”
Heloise’s sexuality is brought up a bit in this book, but you all know my queer heart wanted more. But I am totally ready for what I think Myke is crafting. Heloise completely acknowledges that she likes only girls in this book but seeing her realize that she may be able to love again is something so beautiful I don’t even have words for it. Heloise is such an easy character to root for, and if I’m being completely honest here, Heloise Factor deserves the damn universe and every single star in it.
This series has a very dark tone and feel, which is one of the things I absolutely love about it. But I know that it won’t be for everyone. So, please use caution. Trigger and content warnings for heavy war themes, violence, blood depiction, gore, torture, a somewhat graphic animal death, death in general, and loss of a loved one.
“She was in a war-machine and he was just a man.”
Overall, I still really enjoyed this. I swear, it’s such a high three star rating. Hell, even just writing this review, I am tempted to boost it up to four just because the writing and themes in this series are so good, so important, and so needed. I will eagerly await to see how Myke Cole wraps this all up. Also, I’m so excited to see a lot more of Xilyka
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The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
Buddy read with Petrik, Lilly, Elise, & Dani! ❤
August 12, 2018
ARC provided by the publisher—Tor.com—in exchange for an honest review.
Queen of Crows is hands down the most action-packed novella I’ve ever read.
Let me first state that you might want to take my rating of this book with a grain of salt. My review for this one is based on my experience reading it without rereading the first novella, which I realized too late that I definitely needed to do in order to get the full experience of this book. There’s one main reason behind this rating: it’s been way too long since I read The Armored Saint. I read and reviewed The Armored Saint last September, which is almost a year ago. Since then, I’ve read and reviewed 91 books; that’s a LOT of stories. I should’ve started this knowing that I would have to reread the first book.
It all comes down to the fact that I don’t remember all the side characters anymore. Heloise Factor, Clodio, and Basina are literally the only names I remember from the first book; both Clodio and Basina didn’t make an appearance here so I’m left with only remembering Heloise. I understand that this is a novella and there isn’t time for character reintroduction. However, my enjoyment was heavily affected because I didn’t remember the characters and I also felt disconnected from Heloise due to the number of books I’ve read since finishing The Armored Saint; again, seriously my fault for not rereading the first book.
This of course doesn’t mean that this is a bad book. The action scenes were all vivid, sometimes gory, and well-written. Dialogues were great and compelling, the grimdark tone really hits, and world-building wise we do get to learn more about the world, history, and the Emperor; it’s just that it could’ve been a better experience for me if I had reread the first book. The reason behind this is that Queen of Crows—50 pages longer than the first book—contains a myriad amount of action sequences; almost every chapter since the beginning of the story is action-packed. This causes the plot to move at a breakneck speed, and usually I’m okay with it in a full novel series—especially because this is a sequel and the first book introduced everything magnificently—but this is a novella. I forgot that there wasn’t any time for characters or memory refreshing. Like I always said, characters always make or break any story for me.
I might change my rating and my review for this book in the future when I do binge read The Armored Saint and this book in preparation before reading the last book of the trilogy; I’ve learned my lesson with this one. For now, this is it. I’m sorry, Myke Cole. Trust me that I’m mourning my rating too, you know how much I support you and this trilogy. Don’t get me wrong, 3 stars in my criteria means it’s still a decent book. It’s just that my expectations for this one after reading The Armored Saint was really high and I expected this to be another easy 5 stars read; this was actually one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I just can’t help it. The Armored Saint, in my opinion, is one of the best novellas ever written. I do think that if you love a heavily action-packed book, you’re going to love this one.
Once again, my rating and review for this book might change in the future. I strongly believe that if it’s been a while since you read the first book, you’ll have to reread the first book; do not make the same mistake I did. For now, I’ll just wait for the release of the last book of the trilogy and wish Myke Cole success and all future readers love this book even more than me. I liked it, I just didn't love it.
Thank you to Melanie for buddy reading this book with me. Don't forget check out her review too!
Official release date: October 16th, 2018
You can pre-order the book HERE!
You can find this and the rest of my Adult Epic/High Fantasy & Sci-Fi reviews at BookNest
Queen of Crows is hands down the most action-packed novella I’ve ever read.
Let me first state that you might want to take my rating of this book with a grain of salt. My review for this one is based on my experience reading it without rereading the first novella, which I realized too late that I definitely needed to do in order to get the full experience of this book. There’s one main reason behind this rating: it’s been way too long since I read The Armored Saint. I read and reviewed The Armored Saint last September, which is almost a year ago. Since then, I’ve read and reviewed 91 books; that’s a LOT of stories. I should’ve started this knowing that I would have to reread the first book.
It all comes down to the fact that I don’t remember all the side characters anymore. Heloise Factor, Clodio, and Basina are literally the only names I remember from the first book; both Clodio and Basina didn’t make an appearance here so I’m left with only remembering Heloise. I understand that this is a novella and there isn’t time for character reintroduction. However, my enjoyment was heavily affected because I didn’t remember the characters and I also felt disconnected from Heloise due to the number of books I’ve read since finishing The Armored Saint; again, seriously my fault for not rereading the first book.
This of course doesn’t mean that this is a bad book. The action scenes were all vivid, sometimes gory, and well-written. Dialogues were great and compelling, the grimdark tone really hits, and world-building wise we do get to learn more about the world, history, and the Emperor; it’s just that it could’ve been a better experience for me if I had reread the first book. The reason behind this is that Queen of Crows—50 pages longer than the first book—contains a myriad amount of action sequences; almost every chapter since the beginning of the story is action-packed. This causes the plot to move at a breakneck speed, and usually I’m okay with it in a full novel series—especially because this is a sequel and the first book introduced everything magnificently—but this is a novella. I forgot that there wasn’t any time for characters or memory refreshing. Like I always said, characters always make or break any story for me.
I might change my rating and my review for this book in the future when I do binge read The Armored Saint and this book in preparation before reading the last book of the trilogy; I’ve learned my lesson with this one. For now, this is it. I’m sorry, Myke Cole. Trust me that I’m mourning my rating too, you know how much I support you and this trilogy. Don’t get me wrong, 3 stars in my criteria means it’s still a decent book. It’s just that my expectations for this one after reading The Armored Saint was really high and I expected this to be another easy 5 stars read; this was actually one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I just can’t help it. The Armored Saint, in my opinion, is one of the best novellas ever written. I do think that if you love a heavily action-packed book, you’re going to love this one.
Once again, my rating and review for this book might change in the future. I strongly believe that if it’s been a while since you read the first book, you’ll have to reread the first book; do not make the same mistake I did. For now, I’ll just wait for the release of the last book of the trilogy and wish Myke Cole success and all future readers love this book even more than me. I liked it, I just didn't love it.
Thank you to Melanie for buddy reading this book with me. Don't forget check out her review too!
Official release date: October 16th, 2018
You can pre-order the book HERE!
You can find this and the rest of my Adult Epic/High Fantasy & Sci-Fi reviews at BookNest
May 30, 2020
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The Queen of crows is a book that theoretically I should have loved but in reality I thought it was just okay. It was short, fast paced and has tons of action which sound like a perfect recipe, except that it is missing the most important ingredient which is the characters. I only read The Armored Saint last month so I actually remember the characters and the events, my problem was that this felt like a part in a book rather than being a book by itself. If all books were one full novel and it was divided to 3 parts then I would have loved it more.
The book picks things up immediately after the events of book 1 and I think book 3 will continue after book 2 that way. This makes it kind of hard to think of them as books in a series and more like part of a big story. I think that this book depended on the character-building of book 1 and did not do much in that aspect specially at the start. The book starts with amazing scenes but the lack of an emotional connection makes them less amazing!
Heloise grows immensely from book 1 and maybe more than she should have because it was a short period of time to do so. I also liked the devil part in book 1 but the magic here was almost lost and this was more technical and military-based which is kind of disappointing too. The devil head that was mentioned again and again was not convincing for me, I did not think it was such a huge and impossible task as they make it sound like.
But to be fair to the book and the reason why my rating is still good is because it is a good book at the end of the day, with good writing, great action and a few very impactful scenes! I respect the author choices and will continue the series to know what happens.
“It’s not the girl you need to fear, Poch Drover,” Heloise said, “it’s the war machine she’s driving.”
The Queen of crows is a book that theoretically I should have loved but in reality I thought it was just okay. It was short, fast paced and has tons of action which sound like a perfect recipe, except that it is missing the most important ingredient which is the characters. I only read The Armored Saint last month so I actually remember the characters and the events, my problem was that this felt like a part in a book rather than being a book by itself. If all books were one full novel and it was divided to 3 parts then I would have loved it more.
The book picks things up immediately after the events of book 1 and I think book 3 will continue after book 2 that way. This makes it kind of hard to think of them as books in a series and more like part of a big story. I think that this book depended on the character-building of book 1 and did not do much in that aspect specially at the start. The book starts with amazing scenes but the lack of an emotional connection makes them less amazing!
Heloise grows immensely from book 1 and maybe more than she should have because it was a short period of time to do so. I also liked the devil part in book 1 but the magic here was almost lost and this was more technical and military-based which is kind of disappointing too. The devil head that was mentioned again and again was not convincing for me, I did not think it was such a huge and impossible task as they make it sound like.
But to be fair to the book and the reason why my rating is still good is because it is a good book at the end of the day, with good writing, great action and a few very impactful scenes! I respect the author choices and will continue the series to know what happens.
“Freedom is…it’s like a mountain. Impossibly high, impossibly steep.”
March 2, 2020
*** 3.75 ***
I liked this one better than the first. It was action packed, it was intense, and most importantly, the MC acted a tad more maturely... There is still violence, but it was appropriate for the story, nothing excessive. I was frustrated with the fanatics, but that was the point of the book and I think the author did a great job pointing out all the ingrained prejudices we all have and must hold in check... I know myself, through my teen years, had to deal with a historically encouraged hatred towards the people, who had enslaved my country for centuries... I was lucky to come to the understanding early on, that people are people and there are good and not so good amongst people of all cultural, religious, or ethnic groups... Everyone is responsible for their own choices and actions, so if you hate someone, it should be for something that particular person did, not their association with a group we hold prejudices toward...
Anyway, I digress... So, this novella started exactly where the first one began and the next one is continuing from the exact end of this book. The way I see it, this trilogy is actually one normal size Fantasy book split in three short novels. I am continuing straight into the next book, since I want to know what happens (•‿•).
If military Fantasy set in a medieval world with demons and religious strife and coming out teenage conundrums is your thing, you should give this series a try. 🙂
I liked this one better than the first. It was action packed, it was intense, and most importantly, the MC acted a tad more maturely... There is still violence, but it was appropriate for the story, nothing excessive. I was frustrated with the fanatics, but that was the point of the book and I think the author did a great job pointing out all the ingrained prejudices we all have and must hold in check... I know myself, through my teen years, had to deal with a historically encouraged hatred towards the people, who had enslaved my country for centuries... I was lucky to come to the understanding early on, that people are people and there are good and not so good amongst people of all cultural, religious, or ethnic groups... Everyone is responsible for their own choices and actions, so if you hate someone, it should be for something that particular person did, not their association with a group we hold prejudices toward...
Anyway, I digress... So, this novella started exactly where the first one began and the next one is continuing from the exact end of this book. The way I see it, this trilogy is actually one normal size Fantasy book split in three short novels. I am continuing straight into the next book, since I want to know what happens (•‿•).
If military Fantasy set in a medieval world with demons and religious strife and coming out teenage conundrums is your thing, you should give this series a try. 🙂
zzzzz-did-not-finish
November 27, 2018I got a quarter of the way through this novella back in June or July and then put it down, and upon attempting the second half, I think this series might just not be for me. Book one was really interesting for me because I really liked the lead and the story, but the battle scenes didn't really make an impression. This is so much more focused on the military aspect. Unfortunately, I've basically only started experimenting with my fantasy tastes this year, and I think military fantasy might just not be something that will hold my interest as much.
✨Arc received from my favorite publisher, Tor, for an honest review - thank you so much!
review of book one: here
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✨Arc received from my favorite publisher, Tor, for an honest review - thank you so much!
review of book one: here
Blog | Goodreads | Twitter | Youtube
December 1, 2018
"It's not the girl you need to fear, It's the war-machine she's driving in."
I had very high expectations for this sequel after recently picking up the first one and LOVING it and this did not disappoint!
I had very high expectations for this sequel after recently picking up the first one and LOVING it and this did not disappoint!
June 14, 2018
Full RTC on LAIR OF BOOKS
The Queen Of Crows is the sequel to The Armored Saint which I LOVED to pieces! Myke Cole is one of my new favorite Fantasy authors. I found myself flying through the pages trying to devour the story cause there's a ton of action packed in 250+ pages. However, I did feel like our MC couldn't catch a break from all of the bad things thrown her way. I love a good revolt any day since I'm always up to root for the underdog, I just wish we'd had more story off the battlefield. There's no mistaking Myke Cole writes a gripping battle with vivid descriptions that give off a cinematic feel but he also writes characters I found easy to get attached to. I loved the introduction of the "Kipti" aka Traveling People, I found them to be super intriguing and I'm hoping the next installment gives us more of them. I'd also like to see more character growth from Heloise who honestly has been through so much it would be impossible to come away the same person. For that matter, all of the characters have been THROUGH it in this book and I'm definitely wondering what's next after THAT ending :)
Buddy read with Melanie from Meltotheany
The Queen Of Crows is the sequel to The Armored Saint which I LOVED to pieces! Myke Cole is one of my new favorite Fantasy authors. I found myself flying through the pages trying to devour the story cause there's a ton of action packed in 250+ pages. However, I did feel like our MC couldn't catch a break from all of the bad things thrown her way. I love a good revolt any day since I'm always up to root for the underdog, I just wish we'd had more story off the battlefield. There's no mistaking Myke Cole writes a gripping battle with vivid descriptions that give off a cinematic feel but he also writes characters I found easy to get attached to. I loved the introduction of the "Kipti" aka Traveling People, I found them to be super intriguing and I'm hoping the next installment gives us more of them. I'd also like to see more character growth from Heloise who honestly has been through so much it would be impossible to come away the same person. For that matter, all of the characters have been THROUGH it in this book and I'm definitely wondering what's next after THAT ending :)
Buddy read with Melanie from Meltotheany
October 28, 2018
Heloise is being hailed as a Palantine by the members of her village that saw her kill a Devil in her tinker-forged armor. But to the Order of the Emperor she's just one more thing to grind down in their ruthless control over the country. In this installment she has to rally her village, including her skeptical father and frightened people who just don't trust a young woman to lead them. The Order is stull up against her, with familiar enemies and new ones, but new allies along the way.
In the first book Heloise had little conception of the world around her. This book expands both her understanding and the scope of the setting, in particular showing that the Order is not as all powerful over their territory as they think and giving a look at what lies beyond.
I actually liked this much more than the first book despite there being less in the exploration of wizardry and its consequences. With her new role, Heloise has also largely moved beyond society's expectations of her gender, or at least, right up until she runs afoul of them again.
Looking forward to the third book.
In the first book Heloise had little conception of the world around her. This book expands both her understanding and the scope of the setting, in particular showing that the Order is not as all powerful over their territory as they think and giving a look at what lies beyond.
I actually liked this much more than the first book despite there being less in the exploration of wizardry and its consequences. With her new role, Heloise has also largely moved beyond society's expectations of her gender, or at least, right up until she runs afoul of them again.
Looking forward to the third book.
July 17, 2019
This picks up straight from where The Armored Saint left off, with Heloise and company still being pursued by the Order.
This was pretty action packed, and violent, just like the first book. There is a lot of tension as Heloise continues to face what seem like impossible situations over and over. I like the way her character is developing, as well as that of the various people around her. Tone continues to be a bit obvious in his characterisation, but I guess he is supposed to be a zealot, so it's to be expected.
I don't know how this will all resolve, so I'm looking forward to the final book, The Killing Light, which I expect to be as intense as the first two.
This was pretty action packed, and violent, just like the first book. There is a lot of tension as Heloise continues to face what seem like impossible situations over and over. I like the way her character is developing, as well as that of the various people around her. Tone continues to be a bit obvious in his characterisation, but I guess he is supposed to be a zealot, so it's to be expected.
I don't know how this will all resolve, so I'm looking forward to the final book, The Killing Light, which I expect to be as intense as the first two.
January 24, 2019
*Review originally published on Grimdark Magazine*
4.5 stars~
"Getting old's the hardest thing I've ever had to do. But it's taught me that...that life is like being a mouse caught in a river current. So much of living is simply trying to keep from going under long enough to ride the water to its end."
Fucking hell, Myke Cole! Why do you hurt me so?!? What a roller coaster of emotions The Queen of Crows presented.
The Queen of Crows is the follow-up to The Armored Saint, which was one of my favorite reads of 2018. This begins almost immediately after those events and is just intensely hard hitting right out of the gate. It is also much bleaker in tone than The Armored Saint. Heloise is hardened from prior experiences. She isn’t the same girl after having left her childhood behind. She has grown into an empowered young warrior leading her village in rebellion.
“I am neither queen, nor saint, nor devil,” Heloise said, “but it is true that I am knife-handed, and I do lead here.”
This sequel thrusts the reader into the middle of things straight away. Where The Armored Saint was about Heloise’s personal conflicts, The Queen of Crowsis focused on her becoming a leader. We see her evolving into a strong and resilient hero protecting her village against the tyranny of the Order. The Order is as vicious as ever, cruelly hunting wizards, those that have come in contact with magic users and those that may be harboring them from the corrupt government. Because Heloise and her fellow villagers have been so isolated within their small community, Cole opens up the worldbuilding when she is forced to flee. He introduces the Traveling People, which puts the spotlight on prejudices and different cultures within their increasingly complex world.
Heloise is an immensely special character in the grimdark genre. She is inspiring in that she wants to stand up against oppression and end suffering, yet she is at war with herself and everyone else around her. She questions her sexuality, her faith, her ability to lead, her family, her loyalty to her village, the human condition… she’s just trying to find her place within the world. I could not love her more!
The length doesn’t leave a lot of room for exploring in great detail, but Cole crafts such a vivid world within a relatively short story. The plot is fast-paced and the characters are fully developed. He doesn’t burden the story with anything unnecessary, achieving something so beautifully realized in half the time it takes most grimdark fantasies. It’s maddening how damn talented he is with so few words!
This was grim, fast-paced, violent, gut-punchy, and profound as hell. It’s about revolutions and oppression, religion and prejudice, it’s bloody and gorgeously heartbreaking. Often unrelentingly brutal and somehow impossibly hopeful, Cole provides an insanely satisfying sequel to The Armored Saint. If you haven’t yet checked out this brilliant world, get thee shoved into your skull! It’s a fresh addition to the grimdark movement.
(Big thanks to Tor.com Publishing for sending me a copy!)
**The quotes above were taken from an ARC & are subject to change upon publication**
4.5 stars~
"Getting old's the hardest thing I've ever had to do. But it's taught me that...that life is like being a mouse caught in a river current. So much of living is simply trying to keep from going under long enough to ride the water to its end."
Fucking hell, Myke Cole! Why do you hurt me so?!? What a roller coaster of emotions The Queen of Crows presented.
The Queen of Crows is the follow-up to The Armored Saint, which was one of my favorite reads of 2018. This begins almost immediately after those events and is just intensely hard hitting right out of the gate. It is also much bleaker in tone than The Armored Saint. Heloise is hardened from prior experiences. She isn’t the same girl after having left her childhood behind. She has grown into an empowered young warrior leading her village in rebellion.
“I am neither queen, nor saint, nor devil,” Heloise said, “but it is true that I am knife-handed, and I do lead here.”
This sequel thrusts the reader into the middle of things straight away. Where The Armored Saint was about Heloise’s personal conflicts, The Queen of Crowsis focused on her becoming a leader. We see her evolving into a strong and resilient hero protecting her village against the tyranny of the Order. The Order is as vicious as ever, cruelly hunting wizards, those that have come in contact with magic users and those that may be harboring them from the corrupt government. Because Heloise and her fellow villagers have been so isolated within their small community, Cole opens up the worldbuilding when she is forced to flee. He introduces the Traveling People, which puts the spotlight on prejudices and different cultures within their increasingly complex world.
Heloise is an immensely special character in the grimdark genre. She is inspiring in that she wants to stand up against oppression and end suffering, yet she is at war with herself and everyone else around her. She questions her sexuality, her faith, her ability to lead, her family, her loyalty to her village, the human condition… she’s just trying to find her place within the world. I could not love her more!
The length doesn’t leave a lot of room for exploring in great detail, but Cole crafts such a vivid world within a relatively short story. The plot is fast-paced and the characters are fully developed. He doesn’t burden the story with anything unnecessary, achieving something so beautifully realized in half the time it takes most grimdark fantasies. It’s maddening how damn talented he is with so few words!
This was grim, fast-paced, violent, gut-punchy, and profound as hell. It’s about revolutions and oppression, religion and prejudice, it’s bloody and gorgeously heartbreaking. Often unrelentingly brutal and somehow impossibly hopeful, Cole provides an insanely satisfying sequel to The Armored Saint. If you haven’t yet checked out this brilliant world, get thee shoved into your skull! It’s a fresh addition to the grimdark movement.
(Big thanks to Tor.com Publishing for sending me a copy!)
**The quotes above were taken from an ARC & are subject to change upon publication**
August 21, 2018
Publishing Date: September 2018
Publisher: Tor
ISBN: 9780765395979
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 1.9/5
Publisher’s Description: In this epic fantasy sequel, Heloise stands tall against overwhelming odds—crippling injuries, religious tyrants—and continues her journey from obscurity to greateness with the help of alchemically-empowered armor and an unbreakable spirit. No longer just a shell-shocked girl, she is now a figure of revolution whose cause grows ever stronger. But the time for hiding underground is over. Heloise must face the tyrannical Order and win freedom for her people.
Review: So what do you do with a review when you really want to like it for various reasons? Awesome cover art and a compelling story line were just a few of the things that kept me hungry, initially. So where did it all fall down? Read on mates!
IF everyone in your village is kind of split on whether or not you’re a palatine and YOU don’t even know, then everyone probably should give up the collective notion, at least for brevity’s sake. But there is one uber douche in the crowd that is huge and menacing and constantly calls Heloise “your eminence:“. So while I really wanted Heloise to be all that she can be, she fails miserably as a knight by whining in her own juices.
And that brings me to another consistent downer. The constant arguing and bickering between the townspeople. While this may seem to be integral to the story line, it really wasn’t needed. It detracted so much from the character development that at times it seemed regressive. Coupled with Heloise’ constantly reminiscing about a lost love that died in her arms, and you have a recipe for boring….er, soup. At times I was so bored, that as I neared the end of this excruciating read, I was dismayed that all that back story was a stall for another in the series.
There is nothing new under the sun and in this case the story line has been over done. Add in some magic armor and convenient deus ex situations and away we go.
Read all of my reviews, here.
Publisher: Tor
ISBN: 9780765395979
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 1.9/5
Publisher’s Description: In this epic fantasy sequel, Heloise stands tall against overwhelming odds—crippling injuries, religious tyrants—and continues her journey from obscurity to greateness with the help of alchemically-empowered armor and an unbreakable spirit. No longer just a shell-shocked girl, she is now a figure of revolution whose cause grows ever stronger. But the time for hiding underground is over. Heloise must face the tyrannical Order and win freedom for her people.
Review: So what do you do with a review when you really want to like it for various reasons? Awesome cover art and a compelling story line were just a few of the things that kept me hungry, initially. So where did it all fall down? Read on mates!
IF everyone in your village is kind of split on whether or not you’re a palatine and YOU don’t even know, then everyone probably should give up the collective notion, at least for brevity’s sake. But there is one uber douche in the crowd that is huge and menacing and constantly calls Heloise “your eminence:“. So while I really wanted Heloise to be all that she can be, she fails miserably as a knight by whining in her own juices.
And that brings me to another consistent downer. The constant arguing and bickering between the townspeople. While this may seem to be integral to the story line, it really wasn’t needed. It detracted so much from the character development that at times it seemed regressive. Coupled with Heloise’ constantly reminiscing about a lost love that died in her arms, and you have a recipe for boring….er, soup. At times I was so bored, that as I neared the end of this excruciating read, I was dismayed that all that back story was a stall for another in the series.
There is nothing new under the sun and in this case the story line has been over done. Add in some magic armor and convenient deus ex situations and away we go.
Read all of my reviews, here.
October 23, 2018
4.5 Stars!
"You are Heloise Factor yes? I have heard many titles for you. Some call you the 'Queen of Crows,' others 'the Armored Saint.'
The Queen of Crows takes place almost immediately after the first book.
Heloise is dealing with the aftermath of her slaying the demon and becoming a holy figure to her village.
I loved how Myke Cole developed Heloise. She feels so real, she doubts herself. She makes mistakes, she isn't perfect.
I love the setting and the rich lore of this place, and I really wish that these were longer because I really want fleshed out lore. It is so interesting.
The fight scenes were detailed, the dialogue amazing. The pages just flew by. There was just so much action. I'm impressed with the amount of development that was put in.
There wasn't much time to let things settle to develop, and that's what makes Heloise's development that much sweeter. She is a total badass. I really need the third book. ASAP.
04/03/2018: That cover is frickin gorgeous! I just finished the first book and I need this now.
"You are Heloise Factor yes? I have heard many titles for you. Some call you the 'Queen of Crows,' others 'the Armored Saint.'
The Queen of Crows takes place almost immediately after the first book.
Heloise is dealing with the aftermath of her slaying the demon and becoming a holy figure to her village.
I loved how Myke Cole developed Heloise. She feels so real, she doubts herself. She makes mistakes, she isn't perfect.
I love the setting and the rich lore of this place, and I really wish that these were longer because I really want fleshed out lore. It is so interesting.
The fight scenes were detailed, the dialogue amazing. The pages just flew by. There was just so much action. I'm impressed with the amount of development that was put in.
There wasn't much time to let things settle to develop, and that's what makes Heloise's development that much sweeter. She is a total badass. I really need the third book. ASAP.
04/03/2018: That cover is frickin gorgeous! I just finished the first book and I need this now.
July 19, 2018
Read this review and more at Book Geeks Uncompromised!
I received a copy of this book from Tor.com in exchange for an honest review.
After the events of The Armored Saint, Heloise and her fellow villagers are preparing for a return strike from the Order.
Because of Heloise's actions at the end of the first book, she is now catapulted from teenage girl that no on would never look to for advice to suddenly being expected to have all the answers.
I know I have mentioned this several times in other reviews, but I love themes centered around leadership; how it is inspired, how it grows, and how it can falter. And that is exactly what The Queen of Crows is about.
Heloise's character grew a lot in the first book and this sequel is largely about her trying to understand her place in these villagers' lives now and what they are expecting from her. One of the things that struck me the most was that Heloise has these grand ideals that so many main characters have: she wants to stand up against the oppressors, she wants to fight for their freedom or die trying, she wants to make a change in the world.
But all those villagers? They just want to go on breathing. They want their small village life where they work, eat, and watch their children grow up and Heloise challenging the Order seriously jeopardizes that.
Much like the first book, the more I look back on this book after reading it, the more I fall for it. This series is proof that thousands of pages are not always necessary to create a world and craft compelling character relationships.
I was amazed at how powerful an emotional punch The Armored Saint had considering it is not a big book. The Queen of Crows is only around 40 pages longer but delivers an awe-inspiring insight into humanity that some books many times its size don't always convey. Full of love, loss, betrayal, and impossible odds, this series is absolutely something you do not want to miss.
I received a copy of this book from Tor.com in exchange for an honest review.
After the events of The Armored Saint, Heloise and her fellow villagers are preparing for a return strike from the Order.
Because of Heloise's actions at the end of the first book, she is now catapulted from teenage girl that no on would never look to for advice to suddenly being expected to have all the answers.
I know I have mentioned this several times in other reviews, but I love themes centered around leadership; how it is inspired, how it grows, and how it can falter. And that is exactly what The Queen of Crows is about.
Heloise's character grew a lot in the first book and this sequel is largely about her trying to understand her place in these villagers' lives now and what they are expecting from her. One of the things that struck me the most was that Heloise has these grand ideals that so many main characters have: she wants to stand up against the oppressors, she wants to fight for their freedom or die trying, she wants to make a change in the world.
But all those villagers? They just want to go on breathing. They want their small village life where they work, eat, and watch their children grow up and Heloise challenging the Order seriously jeopardizes that.
Much like the first book, the more I look back on this book after reading it, the more I fall for it. This series is proof that thousands of pages are not always necessary to create a world and craft compelling character relationships.
I was amazed at how powerful an emotional punch The Armored Saint had considering it is not a big book. The Queen of Crows is only around 40 pages longer but delivers an awe-inspiring insight into humanity that some books many times its size don't always convey. Full of love, loss, betrayal, and impossible odds, this series is absolutely something you do not want to miss.
May 17, 2019
Rating: ★★★★★
Synopsis
In this epic fantasy sequel, Heloise stands tall against overwhelming odds–crippling injuries, religious tyrants–and continues her journey from obscurity to greateness with the help of alchemically-empowered armor and an unbreakable spirit.
No longer just a shell-shocked girl, she is now a figure of revolution whose cause grows ever stronger. But the time for hiding underground is over. Heloise must face the tyrannical Order and lay siege to the Imperial Palace itself.
Review
Thanks to Tor.com and the author for an advanced reading copy of The Queen of Crows (Sacred Throne #2) in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this ARC did not influence my thoughts or opinions.
Yeah… I am a bit behind the times. It’s quite sad, really, because The Armored Saint was one of my favorite novellas of 2018 and I was super pumped about its sequel hitting in the same year. Well, I knew I had to do something, seeing as I have a copy of The Killing Light waiting in the wings and Heloise glares at me every time I walk into my office. Opportunity came a-knocking last night when I had to sit through a dance recital rehearsal.
The Queen of Crows is beautiful, brutal, and relentless. Cole has written an astounding sequel that, in my opinion, has topped its predecessor.
What in the world can I say that I haven’t already said in my previous review? Heloise is, hands down, one of THE most enamoring female protagonists in fantasy today. I mean, thrust into a leadership role at her age, with not a lick of training or expertise. An impossible feat that she learns to wield with bravado when it comes to the difficult, and sometimes downright impossible, decisions of war. She may not be the hero they wanted, but she is certainly the one they needed.
Cole has a way of building this world that feels oft times overwhelming to the senses, but is so claustrophobic and intimate in its execution as we see so little of it outside of our band. On top of that, he has created this entity (the Order) that we have only seen bits and pieces of, leaving us to wonder just how this will all play out in the end (sort of like GoT and the White Walkers… I know, everything gets compared to it but you know what I mean, so it works). I feel that Cole has plenty of hands left to play, but the ones he has already put on the table have been winners.
That being said, I didn’t always think The Queen of Crows was going to be a 5-star novella. The first half of the book was a good foundation that was already well established in Book 1, giving us snippets into the past and all of the pieces we needed to bring about the climax. But that second half doe… especially the last 50 pages or so were what ultimately had me giving Cole all the stars. Just when you thought you knew what was coming, R.A. Dickey throws another knuckleball that has you swinging for the fences and missing by a mile.
Synopsis
In this epic fantasy sequel, Heloise stands tall against overwhelming odds–crippling injuries, religious tyrants–and continues her journey from obscurity to greateness with the help of alchemically-empowered armor and an unbreakable spirit.
No longer just a shell-shocked girl, she is now a figure of revolution whose cause grows ever stronger. But the time for hiding underground is over. Heloise must face the tyrannical Order and lay siege to the Imperial Palace itself.
Review
Thanks to Tor.com and the author for an advanced reading copy of The Queen of Crows (Sacred Throne #2) in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this ARC did not influence my thoughts or opinions.
Yeah… I am a bit behind the times. It’s quite sad, really, because The Armored Saint was one of my favorite novellas of 2018 and I was super pumped about its sequel hitting in the same year. Well, I knew I had to do something, seeing as I have a copy of The Killing Light waiting in the wings and Heloise glares at me every time I walk into my office. Opportunity came a-knocking last night when I had to sit through a dance recital rehearsal.
The Queen of Crows is beautiful, brutal, and relentless. Cole has written an astounding sequel that, in my opinion, has topped its predecessor.
What in the world can I say that I haven’t already said in my previous review? Heloise is, hands down, one of THE most enamoring female protagonists in fantasy today. I mean, thrust into a leadership role at her age, with not a lick of training or expertise. An impossible feat that she learns to wield with bravado when it comes to the difficult, and sometimes downright impossible, decisions of war. She may not be the hero they wanted, but she is certainly the one they needed.
Cole has a way of building this world that feels oft times overwhelming to the senses, but is so claustrophobic and intimate in its execution as we see so little of it outside of our band. On top of that, he has created this entity (the Order) that we have only seen bits and pieces of, leaving us to wonder just how this will all play out in the end (sort of like GoT and the White Walkers… I know, everything gets compared to it but you know what I mean, so it works). I feel that Cole has plenty of hands left to play, but the ones he has already put on the table have been winners.
That being said, I didn’t always think The Queen of Crows was going to be a 5-star novella. The first half of the book was a good foundation that was already well established in Book 1, giving us snippets into the past and all of the pieces we needed to bring about the climax. But that second half doe… especially the last 50 pages or so were what ultimately had me giving Cole all the stars. Just when you thought you knew what was coming, R.A. Dickey throws another knuckleball that has you swinging for the fences and missing by a mile.
April 11, 2019
Ahoy there me mateys! This book is the second of The Sacred Throne trilogy. While I try to post no spoilers, if ye haven’t read the armored saint then ye have been forewarned and continue at yer own peril . . .
While I liked book one, time had passed and I thought I was okay with not continuing the series. But then I saw book two at the local library and realized I did in fact want to know what happened next. So I scooped it up.
I was extremely glad I did. The annoyance of the first book was the main character, Heloise. As I said then “She is young, feels like she is seeing the world better and clearer then everyone else, and acts like a spoiled brat. In general much of the plot was driven by her selfishness and stupidity. She made horrible decisions over and over again even when she knew she was in the wrong. So many people went out of the way to protect her and she did what she wanted – consequences be damned.”
Well in book two, Heloise has grown up. The timeframe between books one and two are only days but Heloise has had time enough to process and take ownership of what she did wrong. I very much enjoyed that Heloise continues to have trouble knowing the correct next step to take but her confused thoughts are based on wanting to make the right choice and thinking before she acts.
One of the other awesome things about this book was that the disabilities that Heloise has from book one along with her new injuries are not taken lightly. She actually has to learn to adapt to her new circumstances. I also enjoyed that Heloise has been given an elevated status and yet she doesn’t feel like she is special. I enjoyed the variation in how people perceive her. I also enjoyed watching her parents have to come to terms with her growth and how Heloise has to take initiative to solve her own problems.
The character interactions were what made this book a fun read. I did love the introduction of the Traveling People. The plot itself was fine (a seige) but nothing really new or particularly clever. That said, it was a fast read and I did finish it in one setting.
The good news is that I be caught up on another series! And book three is scheduled to come out on 10/1/19. Arrr!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
While I liked book one, time had passed and I thought I was okay with not continuing the series. But then I saw book two at the local library and realized I did in fact want to know what happened next. So I scooped it up.
I was extremely glad I did. The annoyance of the first book was the main character, Heloise. As I said then “She is young, feels like she is seeing the world better and clearer then everyone else, and acts like a spoiled brat. In general much of the plot was driven by her selfishness and stupidity. She made horrible decisions over and over again even when she knew she was in the wrong. So many people went out of the way to protect her and she did what she wanted – consequences be damned.”
Well in book two, Heloise has grown up. The timeframe between books one and two are only days but Heloise has had time enough to process and take ownership of what she did wrong. I very much enjoyed that Heloise continues to have trouble knowing the correct next step to take but her confused thoughts are based on wanting to make the right choice and thinking before she acts.
One of the other awesome things about this book was that the disabilities that Heloise has from book one along with her new injuries are not taken lightly. She actually has to learn to adapt to her new circumstances. I also enjoyed that Heloise has been given an elevated status and yet she doesn’t feel like she is special. I enjoyed the variation in how people perceive her. I also enjoyed watching her parents have to come to terms with her growth and how Heloise has to take initiative to solve her own problems.
The character interactions were what made this book a fun read. I did love the introduction of the Traveling People. The plot itself was fine (a seige) but nothing really new or particularly clever. That said, it was a fast read and I did finish it in one setting.
The good news is that I be caught up on another series! And book three is scheduled to come out on 10/1/19. Arrr!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
January 8, 2024
Haloise's war against the Order and Empire continues. She loses her first battle against them, and then continues on to take a town and hold it against a siege.
He does a very good showing of what a disaster a peasant rebellion would be though, and I really enjoy that. Without her power armor they wouldn't have gotten far at all.
He does a very good showing of what a disaster a peasant rebellion would be though, and I really enjoy that. Without her power armor they wouldn't have gotten far at all.
February 21, 2019
I may be a girl, Papa, she thought fiercely at him, as if the intensity of it could make him hear and understand, but I am the one they’ve chosen to follow.
Well, this was a violent rollercoaster ride of emotions. As with The Armored Saint, I’m completely astounded by the complexity and sentimentality and sheer amount of action packed into this series’ second novella, The Queen of Crows. Fierce conviction, empowerment, humility and, hope are carefully balanced with brutal battles, tragic loss, and horrific betrayal.
We begin right where we left off: Heloise Factor finding comfort in her second skin - a huge, tinker-forged war-machine, which separates her from the cruelties of the surrounding world. From within she has the strength to destroy demons, the confidence to challenge the Order, and the bravery to protect those she holds dear. With the threat of reprisal from the Order, Heloise must do whatever it takes to keep those from her village alive and devise a plan to put a stop to the crushing oppression caused by a group of powerful religious zealots. Her path is long and arduous, it’s seemingly impossible to grasp victory, but her determination propels her forward. She means to seize the freedom entitled to all.
Heloise may very well be one of the most iconic, intricately-developed female protagonists in modern fantasy. Exquisitely crafted, she’s unsure of her own capabilities, but steadfast in her beliefs and her intent to mold the world into something ideal, something to protect every walk of life encompassed within. With the weight that has been placed on her shoulders, it’s oftentimes difficult to keep in mind she’s a teenage girl, but Cole does a wonderful job of reminding us by allowing us to witness a charm only a child can possess. Her progression throughout is truly remarkable, as she transforms from an idealistic village girl into the figurehead of a revolution, a tactician with the fate of many in her hands.
Cole’s characterization is impeccable, introducing a large cast for the size and scope of the story, yet finely breathing life into each and every one of them. Something we don’t often see is a focus on the harrowing decisions, and their effects, all leaders face - compromise, sacrifice, the few versus the many. Throughout this book, we observe the struggles and difficulties faced by several key characters in leadership positions on the inevitable road to war, demanding we realize them as flawed humans and not something more.
This story is told with such flowing, beautiful prose, and precise detail, clearly painting the conflict that practically drips from the pages. Emotions are portrayed in such a way that that cause you to feel them deep within. Battles are described with such vivid imagery, accurately depicting the true horrors of warfare. Hope consistently radiates throughout the darkness and there certainly isn't a shortage of shocking occurrences to draw you further in.
The Queen of Crows is a gripping, emotional tale of perseverance, of love and acceptance, and of finding one's true purpose. It's a superb addition to The Sacred Throne series and I'm really looking forward to continuing the fight for justice in The Killing Light.
Well, this was a violent rollercoaster ride of emotions. As with The Armored Saint, I’m completely astounded by the complexity and sentimentality and sheer amount of action packed into this series’ second novella, The Queen of Crows. Fierce conviction, empowerment, humility and, hope are carefully balanced with brutal battles, tragic loss, and horrific betrayal.
We begin right where we left off: Heloise Factor finding comfort in her second skin - a huge, tinker-forged war-machine, which separates her from the cruelties of the surrounding world. From within she has the strength to destroy demons, the confidence to challenge the Order, and the bravery to protect those she holds dear. With the threat of reprisal from the Order, Heloise must do whatever it takes to keep those from her village alive and devise a plan to put a stop to the crushing oppression caused by a group of powerful religious zealots. Her path is long and arduous, it’s seemingly impossible to grasp victory, but her determination propels her forward. She means to seize the freedom entitled to all.
Heloise may very well be one of the most iconic, intricately-developed female protagonists in modern fantasy. Exquisitely crafted, she’s unsure of her own capabilities, but steadfast in her beliefs and her intent to mold the world into something ideal, something to protect every walk of life encompassed within. With the weight that has been placed on her shoulders, it’s oftentimes difficult to keep in mind she’s a teenage girl, but Cole does a wonderful job of reminding us by allowing us to witness a charm only a child can possess. Her progression throughout is truly remarkable, as she transforms from an idealistic village girl into the figurehead of a revolution, a tactician with the fate of many in her hands.
Cole’s characterization is impeccable, introducing a large cast for the size and scope of the story, yet finely breathing life into each and every one of them. Something we don’t often see is a focus on the harrowing decisions, and their effects, all leaders face - compromise, sacrifice, the few versus the many. Throughout this book, we observe the struggles and difficulties faced by several key characters in leadership positions on the inevitable road to war, demanding we realize them as flawed humans and not something more.
This story is told with such flowing, beautiful prose, and precise detail, clearly painting the conflict that practically drips from the pages. Emotions are portrayed in such a way that that cause you to feel them deep within. Battles are described with such vivid imagery, accurately depicting the true horrors of warfare. Hope consistently radiates throughout the darkness and there certainly isn't a shortage of shocking occurrences to draw you further in.
The Queen of Crows is a gripping, emotional tale of perseverance, of love and acceptance, and of finding one's true purpose. It's a superb addition to The Sacred Throne series and I'm really looking forward to continuing the fight for justice in The Killing Light.
November 12, 2018
Executive Summary: This book finished a lot stronger than it started for me, but I struggled to finish it quickly despite its short length. 3.5 stars.
Full Review
I really like Myke Cole. I've liked him ever since he did an interview with Sword & Laser in 2013. I follow him on twitter. I really want to support his work.
I've actually listened to 4 of his books and thought most were just ok. When this series was announced I thought it'd be more of my liking, because it's more traditional fantasy and not the modern military fantasy of his previous work.
I still find myself struggling with these books at times. Both have finished much stronger than they start. Both are really well written. I'd say the easily the best books his written to date in terms of the quality of his prose, etc.
I used to read a lot of dark fantasy, but these days the appeal of that has dwindled to almost nothing. The world is dark enough most days, I'm not sure I need to spend my free time reading about horrible things happening to fictitious characters.
I like Heloise. I like the concept of the powered armor, and magic that summons demons if used too much/incorrectly. I don't like all the horrible people being horrible to each other almost nonstop. There are moments where you can catch your breath a little, but they are short lived.
Despite its short length, this book took me a month to read. There were days when I could read, and simply chose not to. Things really picked towards the end however and I finished the end in only a few days.
I like the direction this book took things, and I'm curious to see where it goes from here, but I may wait until I'm in the right mood to pick it up rather than getting it on release day.
Full Review
I really like Myke Cole. I've liked him ever since he did an interview with Sword & Laser in 2013. I follow him on twitter. I really want to support his work.
I've actually listened to 4 of his books and thought most were just ok. When this series was announced I thought it'd be more of my liking, because it's more traditional fantasy and not the modern military fantasy of his previous work.
I still find myself struggling with these books at times. Both have finished much stronger than they start. Both are really well written. I'd say the easily the best books his written to date in terms of the quality of his prose, etc.
I used to read a lot of dark fantasy, but these days the appeal of that has dwindled to almost nothing. The world is dark enough most days, I'm not sure I need to spend my free time reading about horrible things happening to fictitious characters.
I like Heloise. I like the concept of the powered armor, and magic that summons demons if used too much/incorrectly. I don't like all the horrible people being horrible to each other almost nonstop. There are moments where you can catch your breath a little, but they are short lived.
Despite its short length, this book took me a month to read. There were days when I could read, and simply chose not to. Things really picked towards the end however and I finished the end in only a few days.
I like the direction this book took things, and I'm curious to see where it goes from here, but I may wait until I'm in the right mood to pick it up rather than getting it on release day.
October 21, 2018
Heloise comes into her own as she and the other villagers are pursued relentlessly by the Order after the villagers’ victory. Heloise and the others stumble upon a Travelling People camp, where they’re healed by the Mothers. Heloise’s body is damaged and she’s still struggling with men her father’s age looking to her to lead them. Reluctantly, Heloise begins assuming this responsibility and exhorts everyone to come with her to take Lyse, a larger village than their own whose main benefit is it has a surrounding wall, which will be vital if they are to survive at all against the Order.
Heloise really grows in this instalment, going from shy girl to reluctant to contradict or argue or express herself, to actively planning and deciding what her group will do next after the siege of Lyse. She continues to struggle with everyone’s expectations throughout the story, but with each new hurdle or fight I could see the bold, tough confident woman emerging, inspiring others around her, while also becoming more certain of her feelings and desires. Give me more Heloise!
Heloise really grows in this instalment, going from shy girl to reluctant to contradict or argue or express herself, to actively planning and deciding what her group will do next after the siege of Lyse. She continues to struggle with everyone’s expectations throughout the story, but with each new hurdle or fight I could see the bold, tough confident woman emerging, inspiring others around her, while also becoming more certain of her feelings and desires. Give me more Heloise!
September 21, 2018
Well done Mr. Cole, well done.
December 22, 2018
3 Stars!
This was an entertaining book, but not as captivating as the The Armored Saint. I’m hoping the final book in the trilogy brings it!
This was an entertaining book, but not as captivating as the The Armored Saint. I’m hoping the final book in the trilogy brings it!
September 19, 2018
Review by The Grimdragon originally published on Grimdark Magazine.
Fucking hell, Myke Cole! Why do you hurt me so?!? What a roller coaster of emotions The Queen of Crows presented.
The Queen of Crows is the follow-up to The Armored Saint, which was one of my favorite reads of 2018. This begins almost immediately after those events and is just intensely hard hitting right out of the gate. It is also much bleaker in tone than The Armored Saint. Heloise is hardened from prior experiences. She isn’t the same girl after having left her childhood behind. She has grown into an empowered young warrior leading her village in rebellion.
“I am neither queen, nor saint, nor devil,” Heloise said, “but it is true that I am knife-handed, and I do lead here.”
This sequel thrusts the reader into the middle of things straight away. Where The Armored Saint was about Heloise’s personal conflicts, The Queen of Crows is focused on her becoming a leader. We see her evolving into a strong and resilient hero protecting her village against the tyranny of the Order. The Order is as vicious as ever, cruelly hunting wizards, those that have come in contact with magic users and those that may be harboring them from the corrupt government. Because Heloise and her fellow villagers have been so isolated within their small community, Cole opens up the worldbuilding when she is forced to flee. He introduces the Traveling People, which puts the spotlight on prejudices and different cultures within their increasingly complex world.
Heloise is an immensely special character in the grimdark genre. She is inspiring in that she wants to stand up against oppression and end suffering, yet she is at war with herself and everyone else around her. She questions her sexuality, her faith, her ability to lead, her family, her loyalty to her village, the human condition… she’s just trying to find her place within the world. I could not love her more!
The length doesn’t leave a lot of room for exploring in great detail, but Cole crafts such a vivid world within a relatively short story. The plot is fast-paced and the characters are fully developed. He doesn’t burden the story with anything unnecessary, achieving something so beautifully realized in half the time it takes most grimdark fantasies. It’s maddening how damn talented he is with so few words!
This was grim, fast-paced, violent, gut-punchy, and profound as hell. It’s about revolutions and oppression, religion and prejudice, it’s bloody and gorgeously heartbreaking. Often unrelentingly brutal and somehow impossibly hopeful, Cole provides an insanely satisfying sequel to The Armored Saint. If you haven’t yet checked out this brilliant world, get thee shoved into your skull! It’s a fresh addition to the grimdark movement.
The Queen of Crows is out today.
Fucking hell, Myke Cole! Why do you hurt me so?!? What a roller coaster of emotions The Queen of Crows presented.
The Queen of Crows is the follow-up to The Armored Saint, which was one of my favorite reads of 2018. This begins almost immediately after those events and is just intensely hard hitting right out of the gate. It is also much bleaker in tone than The Armored Saint. Heloise is hardened from prior experiences. She isn’t the same girl after having left her childhood behind. She has grown into an empowered young warrior leading her village in rebellion.
“I am neither queen, nor saint, nor devil,” Heloise said, “but it is true that I am knife-handed, and I do lead here.”
This sequel thrusts the reader into the middle of things straight away. Where The Armored Saint was about Heloise’s personal conflicts, The Queen of Crows is focused on her becoming a leader. We see her evolving into a strong and resilient hero protecting her village against the tyranny of the Order. The Order is as vicious as ever, cruelly hunting wizards, those that have come in contact with magic users and those that may be harboring them from the corrupt government. Because Heloise and her fellow villagers have been so isolated within their small community, Cole opens up the worldbuilding when she is forced to flee. He introduces the Traveling People, which puts the spotlight on prejudices and different cultures within their increasingly complex world.
Heloise is an immensely special character in the grimdark genre. She is inspiring in that she wants to stand up against oppression and end suffering, yet she is at war with herself and everyone else around her. She questions her sexuality, her faith, her ability to lead, her family, her loyalty to her village, the human condition… she’s just trying to find her place within the world. I could not love her more!
The length doesn’t leave a lot of room for exploring in great detail, but Cole crafts such a vivid world within a relatively short story. The plot is fast-paced and the characters are fully developed. He doesn’t burden the story with anything unnecessary, achieving something so beautifully realized in half the time it takes most grimdark fantasies. It’s maddening how damn talented he is with so few words!
This was grim, fast-paced, violent, gut-punchy, and profound as hell. It’s about revolutions and oppression, religion and prejudice, it’s bloody and gorgeously heartbreaking. Often unrelentingly brutal and somehow impossibly hopeful, Cole provides an insanely satisfying sequel to The Armored Saint. If you haven’t yet checked out this brilliant world, get thee shoved into your skull! It’s a fresh addition to the grimdark movement.
The Queen of Crows is out today.
November 7, 2019
Lots of big battles, but at the expense of character and worldbuilding. The bad guy's motivation is still little more than that he's just an asshole, and the main character is still a shitty fighter that is always inches away from getting her throat cut . Her only real character development is that she is growing more confident, as long as confident is taken to mean she threatens to kill anyone who doesn't do what she says.
The fact that she is gay only crops up whenever she sees a woman she is hot for, but then it is quickly forgotten, which is a shame because it was established in the first book how homophobic her world is and , so you would think this would be a point the author would want to explore more.
The fact that she is gay only crops up whenever she sees a woman she is hot for, but then it is quickly forgotten, which is a shame because it was established in the first book how homophobic her world is and , so you would think this would be a point the author would want to explore more.
May 26, 2018
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book and feel like I owe a review. I'll write down some notes for this and the first book in the next few months.
This book surpasses the first book, doesn't fall into many of the first book's pitfalls but also leaves intriguing world-building tidbits of the first book out in order to create entirely new ones that I found less compelling.
If you like Warhammer or are frustrated by Warhammer as a setting and would like to read about a religiously zealous medieval peasant revolt in a setting clearly inspired by but Warhammer and 40K give this a look.
I'll write more later...
This book surpasses the first book, doesn't fall into many of the first book's pitfalls but also leaves intriguing world-building tidbits of the first book out in order to create entirely new ones that I found less compelling.
If you like Warhammer or are frustrated by Warhammer as a setting and would like to read about a religiously zealous medieval peasant revolt in a setting clearly inspired by but Warhammer and 40K give this a look.
I'll write more later...
August 13, 2018
Thanks to NetGalley and Tor for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I adored the first book in this series, THE ARMORED SAINT. This entry is a little different than that one. It is not an uplifting fantasy novel. It is a bleak, bleak journey of war and suffering and oppression. For most of the book, the characters' plight seems entirely hopeless. Through all of this, it raises some interesting questions about the price one pays for revolution and freedom. Consistent quality writing from Cole, though the middle of the novel lags and gets a bit frustrating.
I am very likely to pick up the next in the series! Curious to see the end to this trilogy.
I adored the first book in this series, THE ARMORED SAINT. This entry is a little different than that one. It is not an uplifting fantasy novel. It is a bleak, bleak journey of war and suffering and oppression. For most of the book, the characters' plight seems entirely hopeless. Through all of this, it raises some interesting questions about the price one pays for revolution and freedom. Consistent quality writing from Cole, though the middle of the novel lags and gets a bit frustrating.
I am very likely to pick up the next in the series! Curious to see the end to this trilogy.
December 19, 2018
Sparse, but tells the tale (and, frankly, refreshing to see that done in 250 pages rather than 850 ...). Less of an unexpected turn to left field in this book, vs the first - but I suspect the unexpected will arrive again in the concluding book of the trilogy.
I tried (twice) Cole's debut book/trilogy, and just couldn't get into it ... but this and The Armored Saint are making me think I need to give that one yet another go.
I tried (twice) Cole's debut book/trilogy, and just couldn't get into it ... but this and The Armored Saint are making me think I need to give that one yet another go.
November 15, 2018
Another solid read and a great continuation from The Armored Saint. It's been a while since I've read a book series as it's released and I'm always worried I'll forget what was going on. Myke Cole does a great job of helping you pick up the thread right away and you dive right into the action. No fluff in this one.
October 21, 2018
Super let down by this.
Normally I quite like Myke Cole's books, and I thought The Armored Saint was absolutely fantastic. But this was a big step down for me.
For starters, what prompted me to go "By Eru, I need to read this book right now!" about The Armored Saint was the premise as described by the blurb. The book is set in a land dominated by a fanatical order of religious Knights Militant. Their stated purpose is to hunt down and kill anyone who has used magic, has tried to use magic, might think about using magic someday, as well as their family, friends, village, and (just to be safe) their father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate. And they will levy those accusations at anyone who challenges them, doesn't bow deeply enough, or looks at them funny. The reasoning being that magic inevitably lets devils into the world, and they need to prevent that. But just because they're cruel, tyrannical, violent, and corrupt doesn't necessarily mean they are wrong.
So that was the first book, and it delivered and then some.
This one? Not so much. A lot of what made the first book so compelling and so trope-breaking was undone. Deus ex machina abound, as well as cliched fantasy archtypes (the mystical Gypsies in particular irritated me). Characters acted out of character, and definite leanings toward Mary Suedom for Heloise.
I'll read the next book when it comes out, because I loved the first one so much, but my expectations are definitely lowered.
Normally I quite like Myke Cole's books, and I thought The Armored Saint was absolutely fantastic. But this was a big step down for me.
For starters, what prompted me to go "By Eru, I need to read this book right now!" about The Armored Saint was the premise as described by the blurb. The book is set in a land dominated by a fanatical order of religious Knights Militant. Their stated purpose is to hunt down and kill anyone who has used magic, has tried to use magic, might think about using magic someday, as well as their family, friends, village, and (just to be safe) their father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate. And they will levy those accusations at anyone who challenges them, doesn't bow deeply enough, or looks at them funny. The reasoning being that magic inevitably lets devils into the world, and they need to prevent that. But just because they're cruel, tyrannical, violent, and corrupt doesn't necessarily mean they are wrong.
So that was the first book, and it delivered and then some.
This one? Not so much. A lot of what made the first book so compelling and so trope-breaking was undone. Deus ex machina abound, as well as cliched fantasy archtypes (the mystical Gypsies in particular irritated me). Characters acted out of character, and definite leanings toward Mary Suedom for Heloise.
I'll read the next book when it comes out, because I loved the first one so much, but my expectations are definitely lowered.
September 30, 2018
I'm amazed at how much story is in these smaller books. They're not 300+ page books, they're fast, intense reads. The author does a terrific job at nailing the story and it rolls like a whirlwind, but the writing is top-notch, and fantastically well done. Heloise is not an all-knowing heroine, she questions herself without coming across as whiny and poor me, woe is me, and when push comes to shove she is right in the middle, with all the emotions one would think (and hope) would be there keeping her human. Excited for the third book.
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February 3, 2019I was hoping I could push through this, since THE ARMORED SAINT ended with momentum, but even well written it just rubs me the wrong way. Heloise is supposed to be the heroine, yet somehow all the attention and narrative power felt focused on Samson and Barnard? I couldn't get myself behind it.
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