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The Rose Legacy #2
The Queen's Secret
Bestselling author Jessica Day George continues her heartfelt fantasy series about a girl who can communicate with horses and a kingdom on the brink of collapse.
Anthea knows the truth about horses. They're not carriers of deadly disease like everyone in their kingdom thinks; they're majestic creatures who share their thoughts and feelings with her through The Way. Anthea has convinced the king of this, but at a cost--he demands that horses and riders with The Way do his bidding.
But when a deadly plague breaks out, the people believe that horses are the cause. As more fall ill, it's up to Anthea and her friends to transport medicine, all while keeping out of reach from Anthea's wicked mother. And when Anthea discovers a secret that could change the kingdom forever, she must risk everything to reveal the truth before it's too late.
Continuing the sweeping storytelling of The Rose Legacy, bestselling author Jessica Day George delights readers--especially horse lovers--once again.
Anthea knows the truth about horses. They're not carriers of deadly disease like everyone in their kingdom thinks; they're majestic creatures who share their thoughts and feelings with her through The Way. Anthea has convinced the king of this, but at a cost--he demands that horses and riders with The Way do his bidding.
But when a deadly plague breaks out, the people believe that horses are the cause. As more fall ill, it's up to Anthea and her friends to transport medicine, all while keeping out of reach from Anthea's wicked mother. And when Anthea discovers a secret that could change the kingdom forever, she must risk everything to reveal the truth before it's too late.
Continuing the sweeping storytelling of The Rose Legacy, bestselling author Jessica Day George delights readers--especially horse lovers--once again.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published May 14, 2019
101 people are currently reading
948 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Day George
31 books5,939 followersJessica Day George likes chocolate, knitting, books, travel, movies, dragons, horses, dogs, and her family. These are all things to keep in mind if you ever meet her. For instance, you could bring her chocolate to make the meeting go more smoothly. You could also talk about how adorable her children are, even if you have never seen them. You could discuss dog breeds (she had a Maltese named Pippin, and grew up with a poodle mix and a Brittany Spaniel. Right now she has a Coton de Tulear named Sunny). You could talk about Norway, and how it's the Greatest Place On Earth, and Germany, The Second Greatest Place On Earth. You could ask her about yarn, and indicate a willingness to learn to knit your own socks, if you can't already do so.
And, well, you could talk about books. Jessica's books, other people's books. It's really all about the books. To paraphrase Jerry Seinfeld: Friends, family, school, they were just obstacles in the way of getting more books.
She would like it if books came with chocolate to eat while reading them.
And, well, you could talk about books. Jessica's books, other people's books. It's really all about the books. To paraphrase Jerry Seinfeld: Friends, family, school, they were just obstacles in the way of getting more books.
She would like it if books came with chocolate to eat while reading them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
January 7, 2019
Hello, what's this? The second book in the Rose Legacy trilogy? Could it be?
Look at this gorgeous cover! I am so excited!
This book has a lot going on: epidemics! conspiracies! war! kidnappings! And of course: more wonderful horses! More cousinhood/sisterhood/friendship! More Florian and Anthea soulmateness!
I am very excited! I just finished the copyedits, and guys, I'm still in love with this book . . . especially the ending!
January 2019: Just read the galley proofs! YIS. This is gonna be EXCELLENT.
Look at this gorgeous cover! I am so excited!
This book has a lot going on: epidemics! conspiracies! war! kidnappings! And of course: more wonderful horses! More cousinhood/sisterhood/friendship! More Florian and Anthea soulmateness!
I am very excited! I just finished the copyedits, and guys, I'm still in love with this book . . . especially the ending!
January 2019: Just read the galley proofs! YIS. This is gonna be EXCELLENT.
March 10, 2019
So excellent! This series continues to be everything my horse-loving childhood self would have wanted - and more. Exhilarating and adventurous with such great characters and the darling, lovely horses.
May 3, 2020
This is a middle book (never my favorite) where the first book is sloppily recapped, the writing is stilted and repetitive, and the plotting could not be more predictable or obvious.
Explain to me, please, why
This is quite literally a book about an epidemic. And yet it is so slight and unconvincing that nothing about it speaks to me.
Explain to me, please, why
This is quite literally a book about an epidemic. And yet it is so slight and unconvincing that nothing about it speaks to me.
August 11, 2020
Though I love being back with these characters, at first I wasn't feeling quite as engaged with some of the plot elements as compared to book 1. But then the political intrigue really started taking off! Super excited for book 3, especially with how that last chapter ended!
CW: Plague
CW: Plague
March 16, 2019
What a sweet, delightful book! This series is absolutely everything my ten-year-old self would have wanted. Girls and horses who can talk to each other and develop strong emotional connections with each other. Magic, mystery, and girls who save the day.
If I'm being honest, there were a few parts of this book that left me confused, but I think that's because I read an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) and not a finished book. Any issues that I noticed will (hopefully) be fixed before the finished book is released.
As an ardent horse lover, this series is just what I could hope for. Girls and boys that love horses and fantasy will fall in love with this series!
This series is perfect for the "young YA" crowd. I know it's hard to find books for this age group, so parents, rejoice! This is a fantastic book for kids ages 10-14. They will adore this heartfelt adventure!
Content: Some suspense. Movie rating would be PG.
Source: The publisher sent me an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book.
If I'm being honest, there were a few parts of this book that left me confused, but I think that's because I read an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) and not a finished book. Any issues that I noticed will (hopefully) be fixed before the finished book is released.
As an ardent horse lover, this series is just what I could hope for. Girls and boys that love horses and fantasy will fall in love with this series!
This series is perfect for the "young YA" crowd. I know it's hard to find books for this age group, so parents, rejoice! This is a fantastic book for kids ages 10-14. They will adore this heartfelt adventure!
Content: Some suspense. Movie rating would be PG.
Source: The publisher sent me an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book.
September 22, 2019
This is just totally awesome, and very clean! I loved this one and the first one, they are, like, the BEST horse-books I have ever read. I LOVE that they have the "Way" to communicate with horses through their thoughts, it is awesome!👌😍
Also, Florian and Constantine's POV are both exactly
what I would have expected and accurate to what I would
think they should be. All in all, I just love these books so much!
Anthea's mother is EVIL.😠
The Queen is soooo lovely!!!!!
Jilly is just hilarious.😂
Finn is just so cute, and then that oh-so-subtle taste of something more with Anthea.
Lots of great humour in here which I adore.
Sooo yeah, just my rambling nonsense on how supercalifragilisticexpialidocious this book is!!!!😊👍
Also, Florian and Constantine's POV are both exactly
what I would have expected and accurate to what I would
think they should be. All in all, I just love these books so much!
Anthea's mother is EVIL.😠
The Queen is soooo lovely!!!!!
Jilly is just hilarious.😂
Finn is just so cute, and then that oh-so-subtle taste of something more with Anthea.
Lots of great humour in here which I adore.
Sooo yeah, just my rambling nonsense on how supercalifragilisticexpialidocious this book is!!!!😊👍
November 18, 2024
Amazing!
I love this book!
I love this book!
August 27, 2025
Libby/kindle.
Down to the wire with this one, since i had to read it physically, it took me much longer than usual. I managed to finish it with hours to spare!
!-ha! (See what i did there? IYKYK)
Anyway, this was okay, the plot expands out a bit, and the wider world politics get a bit more complicated. Most of this story narrows down back on the farm, with the horses (except barely...)and the riders. Due to it currently being post-2020, the main plot(a flu-like plague ravishing the continent) was not subject matter i was particularly interested in reading about. Especially considering the various twists and turns that the story took. It's a bit of a hot-button issue now. (Though this was probably written well before these current events and are based on WW1 events, so my feelings about it are most likely unfair)
I kept getting hung up on the writing style also. The basic idea here has potential. A way to talk to horses, how fun! But the story features a kind of silly, rather cowardly protag, and it spends a lot of time on everything that isn't the horses personalities. The dialogue is also kind of weak and a bit repetitive. The use of exclamation points is often baffling. The protag is very dim witted most of the time. She doesn't spend much time extrapolating, or pondering. So she ends up having basic obvious things explained to her, all of the time(its a way to info dump to us readers as well) Now, i do understand this is a Middle grade book, so i am definitely not the target audience, and am probably being too harsh. This is a well known author. Perhaps her writing and i just don't mix. But overall, it feels a bit odd and a bit off.
Toward the end of the book, the plot takes some more exciting turns, some characters make some very odd decisions, and I'm interested to see what happens next. Can i just say that Con is a big fat grumpy weirdo, and i do not understand him at all? Also, the mares are all weird too. Actually, the whole ending was super frustrating! WTHeck is Finn thinking? But...booooookkkkkssss?!? Okay-suurree!
Anyway, i liked book one more than this one, but that may be for personal reasons. I have hopes the next book will be better. Although i like the idea for this series, so far it isn't a favorite. Time will tell going forward.
Down to the wire with this one, since i had to read it physically, it took me much longer than usual. I managed to finish it with hours to spare!
!-ha! (See what i did there? IYKYK)
Anyway, this was okay, the plot expands out a bit, and the wider world politics get a bit more complicated. Most of this story narrows down back on the farm, with the horses (except barely...)and the riders. Due to it currently being post-2020, the main plot(a flu-like plague ravishing the continent) was not subject matter i was particularly interested in reading about. Especially considering the various twists and turns that the story took. It's a bit of a hot-button issue now. (Though this was probably written well before these current events and are based on WW1 events, so my feelings about it are most likely unfair)
I kept getting hung up on the writing style also. The basic idea here has potential. A way to talk to horses, how fun! But the story features a kind of silly, rather cowardly protag, and it spends a lot of time on everything that isn't the horses personalities. The dialogue is also kind of weak and a bit repetitive. The use of exclamation points is often baffling. The protag is very dim witted most of the time. She doesn't spend much time extrapolating, or pondering. So she ends up having basic obvious things explained to her, all of the time(its a way to info dump to us readers as well) Now, i do understand this is a Middle grade book, so i am definitely not the target audience, and am probably being too harsh. This is a well known author. Perhaps her writing and i just don't mix. But overall, it feels a bit odd and a bit off.
Toward the end of the book, the plot takes some more exciting turns, some characters make some very odd decisions, and I'm interested to see what happens next. Can i just say that Con is a big fat grumpy weirdo, and i do not understand him at all? Also, the mares are all weird too. Actually, the whole ending was super frustrating! WTHeck is Finn thinking? But...booooookkkkkssss?!? Okay-suurree!
Anyway, i liked book one more than this one, but that may be for personal reasons. I have hopes the next book will be better. Although i like the idea for this series, so far it isn't a favorite. Time will tell going forward.
January 2, 2020
What a great book to start out my 2020 reading year with! This book was so much better then the first one and had so much more character growth and a plot that kept on building. The villain is believable and the main character, although slightly silly is also fun to read from. I love the POV from the horses and I think it is so interesting to see this world that has traditional fantasy elements as well as slightly steampunk/more modern elements. Although this isn’t my favorite book or series by this author I will keep on reading as I am interested to see how it will wrap up. My horse crazy self would have loved this as a child and it’s great to have another horse book out in the wild!
November 18, 2021
I thought this second book was more enjoyable than the first one, with all the twisty politics and hidden villages and a ravaging disease (ouch, strikes home there).
The chemistry with the horses are still there, and the stakes are much higher, making the adventures more thrilling. Anthea grows up considerably which is nice to see - she started off as kind of an antihero in the first book. Her mother is so deliciously evil it's kind of cool (excellently poised for a villain backstory). But the crown glory of this book was definitely the ending. Really nice cliff-hanger ending!
Looking forward to reading the 3rd book.
The chemistry with the horses are still there, and the stakes are much higher, making the adventures more thrilling. Anthea grows up considerably which is nice to see - she started off as kind of an antihero in the first book. Her mother is so deliciously evil it's kind of cool (excellently poised for a villain backstory). But the crown glory of this book was definitely the ending. Really nice cliff-hanger ending!
Looking forward to reading the 3rd book.
December 20, 2019
LOVED this.
Always lovely to go back to this world where a few people can speak to horses. The bond between Thea and her Florian is just so beautiful. This book takes us in new places around the country as Thea and her friends try to deliver vaccines against a mysterious disease that's swept up the kingdom. We learn more about a lot of the key characters' heritage. I enjoyed it tremendously. It's the kind of adventure I'd love to be a part of.
Always lovely to go back to this world where a few people can speak to horses. The bond between Thea and her Florian is just so beautiful. This book takes us in new places around the country as Thea and her friends try to deliver vaccines against a mysterious disease that's swept up the kingdom. We learn more about a lot of the key characters' heritage. I enjoyed it tremendously. It's the kind of adventure I'd love to be a part of.
January 2, 2020
I'm even more disappointed with this one than with the first, and I don't think I'll read the third one. The characters in George's other books are like real people I care about, but I only mildly like some of the characters in this series (Finn and Jilly).
October 11, 2024
loved! it! forever in my Jessica Day George era! This book brought so much more depth to the story and became a continuously compelling story. Moving on to the third asap!
Read
March 14, 2025The whole thing had me thinking of the Covid epidemic haha
January 3, 2026
I love this book so much!
May 18, 2019
A nice middle book of the series. I'm not sure when the next one comes out.
June 13, 2019
This was the middle book of a trilogy with the middle-book's stumbling blocks. I didn't enjoy it as much as the first in the series The Rose Legacy. It seemed not as tightly woven together and it had the usual cliff-hanger. I was disappointed to discover that book 2 had just barely come out this year! I'll have to wait for the conclusion for a while, and I suspect it will be a stellar ending.
June 22, 2020
The thing about the Horse Brigade is this: I would die for them.
I love Anthea and Jilly and Finn and Florian and Bluebell and Caesar and Keth and Uncle Andrew and Callin MacRennie and Jilly and Constantine and Marius and Blossom and Queen Josephine and Jilly and Princess Margaret and Leonidas and Nurse Shannon and Dr. Rosemary and JILLY and (have I mentioned Jilly yet, bc JILLY) so much that I just want to cry and also hang out with them forever. There's so much tenderness and warmth and comfort and love in their group dynamics and the way they speak to the horses and the horses speak back, and they were working so hard for something they believe in, and Jilly is dressed like an icon at all times, and Anthea's come so far, and Finn and Anthea are blushing at each other and UGH. I just love it.
Everything in this book is so nice and pretty and pleasant, which is crazy for me to say bc there's also like, a plague and an impending war and Several Terrible Mothers, and of course plot and peril, but the overall impression of it is just so so so great and somewhere you just want to LIVE. I like ensemble stories of clubs I want to join, and this is undeniably one of those. I love the middle-grade approach, bc there is certainly an alternate-universe version of this book that's YA, but the middle-grade approach is just so much fun and so different. And the romance subsubsubplot that is 85% blushing is just, so blessedly cute. We stan forever.
Also, JDGeorge standard: KILLER great last line.
Loved it loved it, can't wait for The Rider's Reign, kinda lowkey wish it weren't a trilogy and could just go on forever but that's bc I'm selfish.
I love Anthea and Jilly and Finn and Florian and Bluebell and Caesar and Keth and Uncle Andrew and Callin MacRennie and Jilly and Constantine and Marius and Blossom and Queen Josephine and Jilly and Princess Margaret and Leonidas and Nurse Shannon and Dr. Rosemary and JILLY and (have I mentioned Jilly yet, bc JILLY) so much that I just want to cry and also hang out with them forever. There's so much tenderness and warmth and comfort and love in their group dynamics and the way they speak to the horses and the horses speak back, and they were working so hard for something they believe in, and Jilly is dressed like an icon at all times, and Anthea's come so far, and Finn and Anthea are blushing at each other and UGH. I just love it.
Everything in this book is so nice and pretty and pleasant, which is crazy for me to say bc there's also like, a plague and an impending war and Several Terrible Mothers, and of course plot and peril, but the overall impression of it is just so so so great and somewhere you just want to LIVE. I like ensemble stories of clubs I want to join, and this is undeniably one of those. I love the middle-grade approach, bc there is certainly an alternate-universe version of this book that's YA, but the middle-grade approach is just so much fun and so different. And the romance subsubsubplot that is 85% blushing is just, so blessedly cute. We stan forever.
Also, JDGeorge standard: KILLER great last line.
Loved it loved it, can't wait for The Rider's Reign, kinda lowkey wish it weren't a trilogy and could just go on forever but that's bc I'm selfish.
January 9, 2020
The Queen’s Secret by Jessica Day George is a sweet and appealing story. This book is adventurous, enticing, and vivid. Eight months after Anthea’s life changed forever she has come to terms with it and loves her horse, Florian, more than anything but when a dangerous disease begins to threaten everyone in Coronam Anthea and her friends must help find a cure.
“But we can stop the Dag!” Anthea sputtered.” The plot of this story is engaging because a terrible sickness breaks out and Anthea has to deliver a cure to people who won’t accept the medicine. People don’t like horses and because Anthea has a special bond with horses called the Way people believe the cure is contaminated. The setting of this story is very descriptive. When George mentally illustrates the book you know exactly what to picture in your mind. George gives you plenty of details about the scenery that it could be a real place. There is a great amount of dialogue. There isn’t too little because it talks about Anthea’s thoughts so when she speaks you know what’s going on in her head. George makes each character different instead of being all the same. Jilly is a totally different character than her cousin Anthea.
I think people who like adventure, horses, fantasy, family, and books with action should read this book. You want to keep reading it even after you finished the book. The cliff hanger is terrific! I can’t wait for book #3. The Queen’s Secret is an exciting and heartwarming story, the second book of the trilogy, and a must-read!
“But we can stop the Dag!” Anthea sputtered.” The plot of this story is engaging because a terrible sickness breaks out and Anthea has to deliver a cure to people who won’t accept the medicine. People don’t like horses and because Anthea has a special bond with horses called the Way people believe the cure is contaminated. The setting of this story is very descriptive. When George mentally illustrates the book you know exactly what to picture in your mind. George gives you plenty of details about the scenery that it could be a real place. There is a great amount of dialogue. There isn’t too little because it talks about Anthea’s thoughts so when she speaks you know what’s going on in her head. George makes each character different instead of being all the same. Jilly is a totally different character than her cousin Anthea.
I think people who like adventure, horses, fantasy, family, and books with action should read this book. You want to keep reading it even after you finished the book. The cliff hanger is terrific! I can’t wait for book #3. The Queen’s Secret is an exciting and heartwarming story, the second book of the trilogy, and a must-read!
October 14, 2024
So, book 2 of YA fantasy horse series.
Warning: there is a cliffhanger ahead.
The fact that this leads directly into book 3 explains a few things, because on its own the plot is a mess. Even as the middle of a story there are problems here.
Ironically, this was published in 2019 and deals with a deadly plague. In general, the situation is well handled, especially at a YA level. Since this world is somewhere around late 19th to early 20th century in general technology, the general sense of what is going on is known, and it's down to trying to find a cure, or, as it turns out, a good inoculation.
Of course, this isn't something the main characters are directly involved in, though they get the chance to be involved in finding a crucial bit of knowledge. That's dropped a bit suddenly, and comes in from outside the active plot. But, the answer is suggestive of what deeper things are going on, because there is a deeper plot going on underneath all the happenings of the book.
...And that's really the source of the trouble. Things start unraveling near the end, and while there's a lot of questions left, the end is also where we start getting the questions in the first place. There were dropped threads near the beginning, and then there's a lot of motion that goes nowhere until we head into the end. Put together directly with the next book, this may work out well, but inside of this book, the pacing is too uneven, and important things are set aside too long. That said, the writing and characters are enjoyable, and everything is set up well for what should be a very good concluding book.
Warning: there is a cliffhanger ahead.
The fact that this leads directly into book 3 explains a few things, because on its own the plot is a mess. Even as the middle of a story there are problems here.
Ironically, this was published in 2019 and deals with a deadly plague. In general, the situation is well handled, especially at a YA level. Since this world is somewhere around late 19th to early 20th century in general technology, the general sense of what is going on is known, and it's down to trying to find a cure, or, as it turns out, a good inoculation.
Of course, this isn't something the main characters are directly involved in, though they get the chance to be involved in finding a crucial bit of knowledge. That's dropped a bit suddenly, and comes in from outside the active plot. But, the answer is suggestive of what deeper things are going on, because there is a deeper plot going on underneath all the happenings of the book.
...And that's really the source of the trouble. Things start unraveling near the end, and while there's a lot of questions left, the end is also where we start getting the questions in the first place. There were dropped threads near the beginning, and then there's a lot of motion that goes nowhere until we head into the end. Put together directly with the next book, this may work out well, but inside of this book, the pacing is too uneven, and important things are set aside too long. That said, the writing and characters are enjoyable, and everything is set up well for what should be a very good concluding book.
April 9, 2019
The Queen’s Secret (Rose Legacy #2) by Jessica Day George, 256 pages. Bloomsbury, MAY 2019. $17
Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (some danger, a bit of blood)
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Just when it looks like there is hope for horses and their riders to be accepted in Coronam, a deadly plague hits the villages in which the horses are stationed. Now Anthea and the others are desperate to not only find a cure, but also a cause, because they know it wasn’t horses! And what do you do if someone who is supposed to love you turns out to be damaged and evil instead?
Nice! I love that the author turns away from the expected and forges a new story path. It takes a bit long to get there, but there is plenty to think about and chew over as we all waited with bated breath for the third book.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (some danger, a bit of blood)
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Just when it looks like there is hope for horses and their riders to be accepted in Coronam, a deadly plague hits the villages in which the horses are stationed. Now Anthea and the others are desperate to not only find a cure, but also a cause, because they know it wasn’t horses! And what do you do if someone who is supposed to love you turns out to be damaged and evil instead?
Nice! I love that the author turns away from the expected and forges a new story path. It takes a bit long to get there, but there is plenty to think about and chew over as we all waited with bated breath for the third book.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
April 29, 2019
I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Anthea and her loyal steed, Florian, are back... and high stakes might tear them apart again and send the country into war.
It has been a year since Anthea brought horses to Queen Josephine and proved that horses were not dangerous carriers of disease. Now, she and the other riders with the Way deliver messages all over the kingdom. But a potential war with another country along with a dangerous plague known as the Dag rapidly spreading, everything Anthea and her family have worked for may come crashing down. Can Anthea and Florian save the kingdom, and the horses? And is there some deeper, eviler, plot in play?
A fantastic middle book for the "The Rose Legacy" trilogy, I'm eagerly awaiting the series conclusion--and the denouement of that cliffhanger! If you like: horses, girls getting stuff done, conspiracy theories, epic friendships, and queens who take control when the king makes bad decisions, this is the trilogy for you!
Anthea and her loyal steed, Florian, are back... and high stakes might tear them apart again and send the country into war.
It has been a year since Anthea brought horses to Queen Josephine and proved that horses were not dangerous carriers of disease. Now, she and the other riders with the Way deliver messages all over the kingdom. But a potential war with another country along with a dangerous plague known as the Dag rapidly spreading, everything Anthea and her family have worked for may come crashing down. Can Anthea and Florian save the kingdom, and the horses? And is there some deeper, eviler, plot in play?
A fantastic middle book for the "The Rose Legacy" trilogy, I'm eagerly awaiting the series conclusion--and the denouement of that cliffhanger! If you like: horses, girls getting stuff done, conspiracy theories, epic friendships, and queens who take control when the king makes bad decisions, this is the trilogy for you!
July 24, 2019
I'd give this one a 3.5, and I am really enjoying this horse-themed series with plenty of royal intrigue and twists and turns. Anthea's bond with her horse, Florian, and her mistrust of her mother are described well here with passages that will have readers racing through the book to see what happens next. Although the king doesn't make an appearance here, his influence is felt throughout the book. When many of the citizens of the kingdom become ill, and doctors stumble onto a cure, Anthea and her friends help bring the medicine to them. But as is often the case with anything new, they don't trust the medicine, just as they don't trust the horses. When Anthea and Finn venture forth on a mission, they find unexpected surprises and trickery. The book's conclusion will have fans of this series gnashing at the bit for more and the third title in this series to be written quickly. I loved the chapters in which readers get to hear the voices of the horses and have a chance to appreciate their unique personalities.
January 1, 2022
The second book in the Rose Legacy is set a few months after The Rose Legacy ended. Anthea (Thea) had been shot in the first book, but she is well now and is part of the Horse Brigade working for King Gareth carrying messages. This book has a lot happening with a new plague killing people and Queen Josephine trying to get people to take the new medicine as well as believe that the horses had nothing to do with this disease. There are secrets revealed, a kidnapping, a war, a secret village, and a horsenapping to carry the reader into the next story.
We get to know all the characters from the first book a little bit more. We see how brave and daring all the riders are and as the plague made more people sick, I was hoping none of them would get sick. Once again there is a lot of action, but what I love is the communication "The Way" between the humans and their horses. A middle grades book sure to appeal to horse lovers, as well as those who love adventure, fantasy and conflict between two countries. I am hoping to find the last book in this trilogy.
We get to know all the characters from the first book a little bit more. We see how brave and daring all the riders are and as the plague made more people sick, I was hoping none of them would get sick. Once again there is a lot of action, but what I love is the communication "The Way" between the humans and their horses. A middle grades book sure to appeal to horse lovers, as well as those who love adventure, fantasy and conflict between two countries. I am hoping to find the last book in this trilogy.
May 17, 2019
Such a fun book to read! It brought back all the fond memories of reading other horse books, and I loved the strong female cast.
I enjoyed following the next part of Anthea and Jilly's journey. The horses weren't as central of a component this time around, but still very important to the story, and still critical characters with brief sections from their points of view.
Moms also play an interesting role in the book-- with more than one powerful mom pulling the strings from off-scene. The story centers on Anthea and her friends, and the moms rarely appear on scene or make decisions for the girls, but I liked that they were in the background in these powerful roles. Yay moms!
If you're a fan of horse books or just adventure stories featuring female characters, I definitely recommend this series. I think readers ages 8 to 12 would enjoy it most.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed following the next part of Anthea and Jilly's journey. The horses weren't as central of a component this time around, but still very important to the story, and still critical characters with brief sections from their points of view.
Moms also play an interesting role in the book-- with more than one powerful mom pulling the strings from off-scene. The story centers on Anthea and her friends, and the moms rarely appear on scene or make decisions for the girls, but I liked that they were in the background in these powerful roles. Yay moms!
If you're a fan of horse books or just adventure stories featuring female characters, I definitely recommend this series. I think readers ages 8 to 12 would enjoy it most.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 12, 2019
"The Queen's Secret" is a tween fantasy novel involving horses. This novel is the 2nd in the series, but you don't need to read the first book to understand this one as this book referred back to and described the main events in the previous book. This second book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, though, with no one in immediate danger but like this was the first half of a longer book.
The main characters acted realistically and were engaging. Suspense came from a plague breaking out and the riders trying to help while being blamed for it. The world-building gave the story a unique feel--cars, trains, and warships, but also horses and gift that allows people to communicate with horses. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this enjoyable fantasy adventure.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
The main characters acted realistically and were engaging. Suspense came from a plague breaking out and the riders trying to help while being blamed for it. The world-building gave the story a unique feel--cars, trains, and warships, but also horses and gift that allows people to communicate with horses. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this enjoyable fantasy adventure.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
April 19, 2019
Anthea and her people have struggled to overcome lies about horses; they know that horses don't carry diseases. But when a plague breaks out, the horses are blamed once again. With the country on the verge of war and the plague spreading, Anthea needs to figure out what is going on and who is really behind the chaos sweeping the country.
This is a really engaging series. I just really like it--Thea's a great protagonist, capable and intelligent but not irritating, and supporting characters are also appealing. The whole world the author has built is so interesting. The scientific elements, with the outbreak of the disease and the efforts to figure out what's causing it and how to stop it, were are also really great. I'm really looking forward to the last book in the series to see how things play out.
I read an ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This is a really engaging series. I just really like it--Thea's a great protagonist, capable and intelligent but not irritating, and supporting characters are also appealing. The whole world the author has built is so interesting. The scientific elements, with the outbreak of the disease and the efforts to figure out what's causing it and how to stop it, were are also really great. I'm really looking forward to the last book in the series to see how things play out.
I read an ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
January 3, 2020
In the 2nd book of a planned trilogy, the adventures of Anthea and her fellow Horse Brigade members are carrying messages for their Queen and trying to overcome their kingdom’s fear of horses. Members of the Horse Brigade can communicate with their horses using “the way” – a form of mental telepathy. Tensions is the kingdom are high as was looms and power struggles intersect with a mysterious illness and the people’s fear of horses and their riders. Anthea’s missing spy mother is revealed as the architect of an evil plot to make the kingdom ill and rid it of horses altogether, setting the stage for book three. This series will appeal to horse loving readers, but it so focused on horses that more casual readers may be less engaged.
June 11, 2024
Well this was a bit of a weird one. I mean, yay horsies, yay story, but the Queen's actual secret was a bit... meh. Like, it could've been actually more scandalous, but oh well. The few characters I don't get at all: Constantine, who I'm expecting in every moment to go on a murder spree, the King who's just a random opposer, and Arthur who's just a curious pet-prop at this point in the story.
My other complaint about this book is the sudden violent changes in scenes. We start at a random place far from the ending of the previous one and we don't really get much explanation what happened in-between, and there are at least two more such jumps mid-book. I got whiplash, it was so random and it took a bit to orient myself, bumping me out of the plot and the book.
My other complaint about this book is the sudden violent changes in scenes. We start at a random place far from the ending of the previous one and we don't really get much explanation what happened in-between, and there are at least two more such jumps mid-book. I got whiplash, it was so random and it took a bit to orient myself, bumping me out of the plot and the book.
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