Johanna, Roald, Nellie and Loesie return undercover to the devastated city of Saardam. In the months since they fled, the Fire Wizard Alexandre has ruled the town with campaigns of death and fear, focused on the eradication of the Church of the Triune, the former state church of Saarland that doesn't allow magic and that is more popular with the common people than with nobles.
Johanna meets up with underground members of the church, even though her little gift of magic makes her feel ambivalent about it. She knows that ousting Alexandre will require a powerful magician, something she and her followers do not have. What is more, Alexandre's men discover the group, and the band of resistance fighters faces the showdown with the tyrant long before they're even close to ready for it.
This was easily my favorite one in the series so far. Johanna has so much to grapple with as she and the survivors return to Saardam. I appreciate the way she grows with those around her into her role as queen and the main ruler of the Saarland. She comes to be someone who makes wise and informed decisions as a queen, and who accepts her own role amidst a nation's trauma.
This one seemed a lot shorter than the last three, probably because I read it within just two days at the time, and also because the audio might have actually been shorter, at least compared to The Idiot King which was the longest yet. I was also surprised that Genevieve Lerner was no longer narrating the audiobooks, and that Patty Jansen herself was narrating. My guess is that Lerner was pronouncing characters and places with too much of an American accent for Jansen's tastes in a story that takes place in a fictionalization of medieval Europe. At first I thought I preferred Lerner, although I didn't like her that much at first, but Jansen grew on me as a narrator as well as a writer.
After my Audible issues, I was happy to finish this one quickly, and have already moved on to The Dragon Prince. I hate giving Amazon my money, but at the same time I'm committed to this series now. 2 to go, and I love listening to them!
We start off where Johanna, Roald, and the refugee return back to the city. They find it mostly in ruins. There they make plans to take back their city. Its still pretty good. The ending ends again in a cliffhanger.
It's hard to believe all that has happened in this book. There's a strong possibility that Johanna is pregnant. If so, is it the kings or the magicians? Her power is growing stronger as well. The king, Roald, seems to be coming more socially aware and able to interact some. This story is about returning to and taking back Saarland. There is so much going on and magic stirring everywhere, is it even possible for Saarland to return to what it once was. There is so much potential for a new town. I cannot wait to get to the next story and see what comes of it all. I would suggest beginning with the first book in this series and reading through. It is definitely a progressive series. I am not a big fan of cliff hangers but if you're going to read the series, it really doesn't matter.
Another exciting adventure. When good men stand together, evil can be defeated. I'm ready for the next exciting journey! Another great story by a great author.