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Paths of Lantistyne #2
The Rightful Queen
The second book in Isabelle Steiger's epic fantasy series, which weaves together the lives of the haves and the have-nots--both desperately fighting to reassemble the remains of a fallen empire.
The Rightful Queen returns readers to the territories of Lantistyne. Imperator Elgar has brought war to the continent once again, and the rogues of the Dragon's Head, once forced into his service, are scattered to the winds, wracked by tragedy and struggling to reunite.
While a cornered King Kelken grows increasingly desperate, Arianrod Margraine, the brilliant but outmanned marquise of Esthrades, devises a plan to stretch Elgar's forces thin and turn the tide of battle in their favor. But when the sheltered queen of Issamira is driven from her throne by a long-simmering plot and the use of forbidden magic, Arianrod faces an even more pressing crisis.
Adora Avestri is more than the rightful queen of Issamira, more even than the key to defeating Elgar on the field--she has drawn the attention of beings older than Lantistyne itself, who possess hidden knowledge Arianrod has long desired. But if the queen and the marquise hope to survive long enough to learn it, Adora must find the strength to claim her birthright once and for all, and Arianrod must match wits and magic with a foe she has never before encountered: an equal.
The Rightful Queen is another example of Isabelle Steiger's powerful writing, full of intricate characters and complex world-building.
The Rightful Queen returns readers to the territories of Lantistyne. Imperator Elgar has brought war to the continent once again, and the rogues of the Dragon's Head, once forced into his service, are scattered to the winds, wracked by tragedy and struggling to reunite.
While a cornered King Kelken grows increasingly desperate, Arianrod Margraine, the brilliant but outmanned marquise of Esthrades, devises a plan to stretch Elgar's forces thin and turn the tide of battle in their favor. But when the sheltered queen of Issamira is driven from her throne by a long-simmering plot and the use of forbidden magic, Arianrod faces an even more pressing crisis.
Adora Avestri is more than the rightful queen of Issamira, more even than the key to defeating Elgar on the field--she has drawn the attention of beings older than Lantistyne itself, who possess hidden knowledge Arianrod has long desired. But if the queen and the marquise hope to survive long enough to learn it, Adora must find the strength to claim her birthright once and for all, and Arianrod must match wits and magic with a foe she has never before encountered: an equal.
The Rightful Queen is another example of Isabelle Steiger's powerful writing, full of intricate characters and complex world-building.
544 pages, Hardcover
First published July 21, 2020
4 people are currently reading
419 people want to read
About the author
Isabelle Steiger
3 books88 followersIsabelle Steiger read her first novel at age five: THE BOXCAR CHILDREN, discovered on a shelf in her kindergarten classroom. By about page twenty, she'd decided upon two things: This is my favorite thing I've ever done, and When I grow up, I'm going to make these. She stands by those decisions to this day.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
June 26, 2022
Brilliant story teeming with politics, magical intrigue and action, with interesting characters to root for. I enjoyed this, although the pacing was a slow-burn, but it had hooked me right from the start. This is by no means a small book, it's a rather hefty one counting at some 700 pages, but, Steiger doesn't make it a chore to go through it, she keeps up the narrative tension, the suspense in an elegant manner.
This book begins right after that transpired in the ending of The Empire's Ghost, and Steiger gives us some very entertaining revelations regarding some characters, the supernatural entities, and also a glance into the conflict that's brewing. The events of the novel primarily focuses on the kingdom of Issamira and it's reluctant queen, while at the same time it also gives a view of the uprising that's taking place in Valynrend. I liked the way the wardenfells were portrayed, and about their basic nature, role in the upcoming conflict, and mostly I loved that the famed Shinrian would have a significant part in the war which is about to happen.
The characters are likable too. Marceline, I just love her, the clever, intelligent thief. She's just a joy to behold. Arianrod, I am very eager to know how she is going to deal with Elgar and his minions. Arianrod is by far the most powerful and intriguing woman character, after Adora, the queen of Issamira. I also liked the beautiful gay chemistry between Arianrod and her assassin bodyguard. Likewise, Adora is also a strong character who now holds the kingdom at the brink of another war, and her reluctance, empathy, determination is commendable in the face of adversity. I want to see more of the Wardenfell, their conflicted personalities, and I hope that Steiger will make their parts even more epic.
The book ends on a ominous note, with Elgar's armies arriving at Arianrod's kingdom Esthrades. Meanwhile, the resistance has also captured the attention of capricious gods who have their own motives. The pieces have been set in motion, and I can't wait to see an explosive conclusion of this epic tale in the next book (The Risen City). Now, that the series is completed, I would urge the readers of the fantasy community to give this series a try. I can assure that they won't be disappointed.
This book begins right after that transpired in the ending of The Empire's Ghost, and Steiger gives us some very entertaining revelations regarding some characters, the supernatural entities, and also a glance into the conflict that's brewing. The events of the novel primarily focuses on the kingdom of Issamira and it's reluctant queen, while at the same time it also gives a view of the uprising that's taking place in Valynrend. I liked the way the wardenfells were portrayed, and about their basic nature, role in the upcoming conflict, and mostly I loved that the famed Shinrian would have a significant part in the war which is about to happen.
The characters are likable too. Marceline, I just love her, the clever, intelligent thief. She's just a joy to behold. Arianrod, I am very eager to know how she is going to deal with Elgar and his minions. Arianrod is by far the most powerful and intriguing woman character, after Adora, the queen of Issamira. I also liked the beautiful gay chemistry between Arianrod and her assassin bodyguard. Likewise, Adora is also a strong character who now holds the kingdom at the brink of another war, and her reluctance, empathy, determination is commendable in the face of adversity. I want to see more of the Wardenfell, their conflicted personalities, and I hope that Steiger will make their parts even more epic.
The book ends on a ominous note, with Elgar's armies arriving at Arianrod's kingdom Esthrades. Meanwhile, the resistance has also captured the attention of capricious gods who have their own motives. The pieces have been set in motion, and I can't wait to see an explosive conclusion of this epic tale in the next book (The Risen City). Now, that the series is completed, I would urge the readers of the fantasy community to give this series a try. I can assure that they won't be disappointed.
June 25, 2020
3.5- The Rightful Queen continues the epic tale that began in The Empire’s Ghost. If you enjoyed book one, you will absolutely enjoy The Rightful Queen. I would not recommend picking up The Rightful Queen without having read The Empire’s Ghost first. As the plot thickens, alliances are formed and betrayals are merciless. The threads binding the large cast of characters together are still evident, even as tensions rise and secrets are revealed.
Steiger shows significant growth as a writer as she continues to unravel the tangled plot that she has woven. Parts of this book really worked for me and others did not. I struggled with pacing and momentum in the middle, but I trusted all would be made clear in the end. It mostly was, though much of this book felt like it was setting itself up for book three. With such a complicated story, the writing wrestled with telling more than showing, mainly in terms of character dialogue. That said, there were sections of dialogue that made me positively grin with delight! The characters are devious, conspiring, and courageous. One of my favorite parts of this book was the flashbacks where more is revealed about the experiences that shaped certain characters.
This is not a light read, but if you commit to it you are in for a compelling and intense story. If you enjoy Game of Thrones, twisted politics, and complex characters, then you will definitely want to check out this series, Paths of Lantistyne. The Rightful Queen releases July 21, 2020. Thank you to Isabelle Steiger, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Steiger shows significant growth as a writer as she continues to unravel the tangled plot that she has woven. Parts of this book really worked for me and others did not. I struggled with pacing and momentum in the middle, but I trusted all would be made clear in the end. It mostly was, though much of this book felt like it was setting itself up for book three. With such a complicated story, the writing wrestled with telling more than showing, mainly in terms of character dialogue. That said, there were sections of dialogue that made me positively grin with delight! The characters are devious, conspiring, and courageous. One of my favorite parts of this book was the flashbacks where more is revealed about the experiences that shaped certain characters.
This is not a light read, but if you commit to it you are in for a compelling and intense story. If you enjoy Game of Thrones, twisted politics, and complex characters, then you will definitely want to check out this series, Paths of Lantistyne. The Rightful Queen releases July 21, 2020. Thank you to Isabelle Steiger, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 25, 2020
Thanks to St. Martin's Press for sending me an ARC for a review! (Sorry it is so late; 2020 has been ... 2020).
5/5
So, to absolutely no one's surprise, I absolutely adored and completely devoured this book. Miss Steiger returns in glorious form, weaving her insane storylines and characters and somehow connecting them all in ways that make you need to know what happens next. Having to put this book down to do other things was really difficult most of the time; it's so easy to get invested in this world.
I know I said this before, but I cannot wait for the next installment. Even when this series finishes, I will most definitely continue to follow the author through her career. An amazing debut in my favorite genre, and the continuation one-upped it in ways I never thought possible.
5/5
"[E]very invention meant to create order must first have been conceived by a chaotic mind. Because chaos is change, and how can you have anything new without change?"
So, to absolutely no one's surprise, I absolutely adored and completely devoured this book. Miss Steiger returns in glorious form, weaving her insane storylines and characters and somehow connecting them all in ways that make you need to know what happens next. Having to put this book down to do other things was really difficult most of the time; it's so easy to get invested in this world.
I know I said this before, but I cannot wait for the next installment. Even when this series finishes, I will most definitely continue to follow the author through her career. An amazing debut in my favorite genre, and the continuation one-upped it in ways I never thought possible.
April 23, 2020
I read and reviewed the first book in the series before reading this book. I found that first book, The Empire's Ghost, to be a bit tedious, but still interesting. This second book, The Rightful Queen, is unfortunately just tedious.
While I don't normally get lost with a cast of many characters, I found myself stretched to the limit with the first book. This second book just piles on, adding more characters! While I wasn't entirely sure of the plot of the first book, this book continues in the same vein, although to its credit some of the remaining questions from book 1 are answered. Book 1 was at least clean, where this book contained more adult themes. Overall, the care I had for the characters was gone by this book. I just wanted to know what happened to Prince Landon (and it wasn't what I thought).
Thanks NetGalley & publishers for the free e-ARC. I wish I liked this book more.
While I don't normally get lost with a cast of many characters, I found myself stretched to the limit with the first book. This second book just piles on, adding more characters! While I wasn't entirely sure of the plot of the first book, this book continues in the same vein, although to its credit some of the remaining questions from book 1 are answered. Book 1 was at least clean, where this book contained more adult themes. Overall, the care I had for the characters was gone by this book. I just wanted to know what happened to Prince Landon (and it wasn't what I thought).
Thanks NetGalley & publishers for the free e-ARC. I wish I liked this book more.
July 15, 2020
If you are a reader of epic fantasy or enjoyed watching Game of Thrones and want to read a book like it, then I think you will really enjoy The Rightful Queen by Isabelle Steiger. This is the second book in the Paths of Lantistyne, and unlike other series, I really recommend that you read the first book, The Empire’s Ghost, before diving into this one. If it’s been awhile since you’re read The Empire’s Ghost then I also highly recommend that you read the list of characters at the beginning of The Rightful Queen to help you remember the characters… unless you have a great memory, then you may not need to, but I definitely did!!
Steiger begins right where the first book ended and continues to weave various characters into each other’s paths while keeping others apart when all you want for them is to meet up again. There are events that are happening in about four different regions and they all tie together, some of the adventures come together in this book, while Steiger writes up even more circumstances that will carry us into the next book. To me, this makes for an excellent writer, someone who can manipulate the story seamlessly and leave the reader wanting more.
Another thing that is great about this epic fantasy series is the female characters not only being in true power, but not being written into the story scantily dressed and only waiting around in the wings as a love interest. Having read epic fantasy since the 90’s I read a lot of books where this happened, and I didn’t even realize it since this was the only type of story that was available, or at least that I knew about.
Another cool thing, not only is Steiger introducing us to new characters, but she even gives us a new plot line in this book. Not just a subplot, but something entirely new from the first book. And I love the direction it is going. A new mythology that I am interested to see how it plays out and if it will end up crossing into any religions/myths that I am aware of.
I highly recommend The Rightful Queen (and The Empire’s Ghost), and since epic fantasies take longer to write then other genres, I will be patiently waiting for book three… hopefully not as long as for George R. R. Martin’s next book. ;)
Steiger begins right where the first book ended and continues to weave various characters into each other’s paths while keeping others apart when all you want for them is to meet up again. There are events that are happening in about four different regions and they all tie together, some of the adventures come together in this book, while Steiger writes up even more circumstances that will carry us into the next book. To me, this makes for an excellent writer, someone who can manipulate the story seamlessly and leave the reader wanting more.
Another thing that is great about this epic fantasy series is the female characters not only being in true power, but not being written into the story scantily dressed and only waiting around in the wings as a love interest. Having read epic fantasy since the 90’s I read a lot of books where this happened, and I didn’t even realize it since this was the only type of story that was available, or at least that I knew about.
Another cool thing, not only is Steiger introducing us to new characters, but she even gives us a new plot line in this book. Not just a subplot, but something entirely new from the first book. And I love the direction it is going. A new mythology that I am interested to see how it plays out and if it will end up crossing into any religions/myths that I am aware of.
I highly recommend The Rightful Queen (and The Empire’s Ghost), and since epic fantasies take longer to write then other genres, I will be patiently waiting for book three… hopefully not as long as for George R. R. Martin’s next book. ;)
December 12, 2022
I (yet again) requested the third book in a growing series. I just plowed through the first two chonkers and call me crazy, but I'm loving these.
Paths of Lantistyne is an RPG inspired intricately faceted epic fantasy series. Magic is a mythical tale that whispers at the edges of the plot. War is knocking on the doors of neighboring lands and political ploys are digging graves and counting coin.
The Rightful Queen easily passes the 500 page mark and while that may seem daunting, it expertly held my attention. Picking up at where the first leaves off and building on the paths of the various characters in book one. You can see Steiger's growth not only in the world building but the writing intricacies of the narrative, deceptions and follow through of each diverging line. The edition of LGBTQ representation fit nicely too. The reveals for the history of some of our prime characters was just excellent. At this point I'm running out of adjectives to describe how much I'm enjoying these.
Up next is The Risen City releasing the 20th of Dec. I cannot wait to see where Steiger takes these characters and what will be revealed next. Thank you St Martins Press for the gifted digital copies! True rating 4.5/5.
Paths of Lantistyne is an RPG inspired intricately faceted epic fantasy series. Magic is a mythical tale that whispers at the edges of the plot. War is knocking on the doors of neighboring lands and political ploys are digging graves and counting coin.
The Rightful Queen easily passes the 500 page mark and while that may seem daunting, it expertly held my attention. Picking up at where the first leaves off and building on the paths of the various characters in book one. You can see Steiger's growth not only in the world building but the writing intricacies of the narrative, deceptions and follow through of each diverging line. The edition of LGBTQ representation fit nicely too. The reveals for the history of some of our prime characters was just excellent. At this point I'm running out of adjectives to describe how much I'm enjoying these.
Up next is The Risen City releasing the 20th of Dec. I cannot wait to see where Steiger takes these characters and what will be revealed next. Thank you St Martins Press for the gifted digital copies! True rating 4.5/5.
August 30, 2020
A very interesting book, with the dramas that take place in a faraway kingdom. Lantistyne Territory has witnessed the war that Emperor Elgar caused. The members of Dragon's Head have had to take up arms again. King Kelken is increasingly desperate to protect himself. Arianrod Margraine is the Marquise of Esthrades, she schemes to strengthen Elgar's troops to win the battle. On the other hand, the Queen of Issamira is separated from the throne by a plan that includes the use of forbidden magic. Arianrod faces a very complex crisis that will require her intelligence and skills to be able to solve it. Adora Avestri is more than the true queen of Issamira, she is the key to defeating Elgar in this dreadful war. I liked that the author narrated the story through different points of view including constant dialogues between the characters. The story intrigued me throughout the whole book, the narration was entertaining and engaging. Another aspect that I loved was that the author emphasizes Adora, who has very difficult challenges to overcome. I thank NetGalley and StMartin's Press for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
June 23, 2020
Talk about epic! The Rightful Queen by author Isabelle Steiger is the second book in the Paths of Lantistyne series and like the first it feeds my every desire for high tension fantasy filled with twisty maneuvering and characters to love and loathe. The world grows richer, the plotting of the characters deepens and darkens.
This part has a touch more adult tones that the last, but in general the same feel. It is the kind of story that commands your attention, as the moves taking place are both subtle and overt and you get so caught up that even have to pause to sleep or eat is a struggle... I seriously growled when the phone rang.
If you enjoyed fantasy along the lines of GOT this is a series you'll want to get lost in. Make sure you start at part one as you'll need/want to know the motivating factors of everyone. I highly recommend this for fans of epic high fantasy. I hope there is more from Isabelle Steiger soon.
This part has a touch more adult tones that the last, but in general the same feel. It is the kind of story that commands your attention, as the moves taking place are both subtle and overt and you get so caught up that even have to pause to sleep or eat is a struggle... I seriously growled when the phone rang.
If you enjoyed fantasy along the lines of GOT this is a series you'll want to get lost in. Make sure you start at part one as you'll need/want to know the motivating factors of everyone. I highly recommend this for fans of epic high fantasy. I hope there is more from Isabelle Steiger soon.
January 25, 2023
Re-read 1/24/23
4.5 ⭐ More people need to read this series!
7/20/2020
5⭐
I HAVE FALLEN HEAD OVER HILLS FOR THIS SERIES.
A few things to keep in mind before you pick up this series:
- Very large cast of characters,
- Highly political,
- Very character driven,
- Slow build up
If you aren't a fan of anything I listed above, this series isn't for you.
The first 50% of the book didn't feel as good as the first book felt to me, so I was a bit worried that this 2nd installment was going to disappoint me. Thankfully that wasn't the case. The rest of the book was excellent!
The world expends significantly in the sequel, as does character development. There are many new additions to the cast but they all server a purpose. This 500+ page installment left me craving more and I really wish I had the 3rd book in my hands already!
*I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
4.5 ⭐ More people need to read this series!
7/20/2020
5⭐
I HAVE FALLEN HEAD OVER HILLS FOR THIS SERIES.
A few things to keep in mind before you pick up this series:
- Very large cast of characters,
- Highly political,
- Very character driven,
- Slow build up
If you aren't a fan of anything I listed above, this series isn't for you.
The first 50% of the book didn't feel as good as the first book felt to me, so I was a bit worried that this 2nd installment was going to disappoint me. Thankfully that wasn't the case. The rest of the book was excellent!
The world expends significantly in the sequel, as does character development. There are many new additions to the cast but they all server a purpose. This 500+ page installment left me craving more and I really wish I had the 3rd book in my hands already!
*I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
April 12, 2021
First things first: My theory about Landon was right :D
also: near the end, we have emotional impact.
This definitely was less rocky than the first book was, I can see it's a second book. Stuff got even more complex, both political intrigue wise and when looking at the number of characters as well as their dynamics. And I really liked it, even if I had to go to the Dramatis Personae a couple of times to know who certain characters were. Both from book one and newly introduced (probably).
But I think it fits. When is political intrigue ever simple and does it involve only the leaders? There are always more parties involved that cause interplay and problems for one another.
sometimes the switching of the setting can be a bit jarring, but I also expected it from The Empire's Ghost. I really like the way this is moving and I can see where the bigger arc probably is heading.
So far none of the plot twists has been extremely surprising to me (if at all) even the one mentioned on top of this review. It was shocking, but I quickly realised Arianrod must have anticipated it and incorporated it as a possibility in her plan, especially since .
I really like that a whole bunch of the scheming and plotting is done either by women or by men and women together. The female characters are strong and have both intellect and personality, something I really enjoy reading. I like characters who aren't afraid to admit they're plotting with their cunning brains mostly for their own benefit.
I also liked that we got to see some sapphic intimacy and that one of the pair was a character generally portrayed as coldhearted and aloof. I also appreciated it was probably the smartest character in the book doing it. Someone who lives by logic and strategy.
I just love a good political fantasy. Especially in a setting like this one where the implications of magic returning are a big part of what drives (almost) all of the political machinations and a lot of the character dynamics.
We even got to see some characters who are very old and were once worshipped as gods even though we now get to hear it was mostly their vanity that made them accept this as a truth. I just liked we get some insight into some of the characters behind it (I guess we've seen 3 or 4 of them so far) and a bunch of our characters has been critiquing the current Ninist religions since the previous book because it just seems strange (also old and not widely practised anymore).
The word building we get in this book is interesting too. We get more info on the God's Curse (a desert separating Issamira in the south from the rest of the continent of Lanthistyne) . Yet we still don't know what exactly it is and how it came to exist in the first place. We now know the Avestri can navigate it pretty easily (might've come up in book 1, but I'm not fully certain) and that it has something to do with the magic disappearing, or so it seems to me.
I also like the information we get about the different types of magic users as well as the sword Rhia has. There are more weapons around like that one and what they can do is interesting .
Maybe the only thing that was truly a bit surprising is that we now have an idea of the origin of Shinsei and with that came a bit more information that built up the language Lucius spoke before he travelled away from his home.
The only thing that was a bit much at times was the sheer amount of information and characters and the way the perspectives jumped around. Especially since some chapters are quite short and it can take a couple of pages to get in that plot arc again but then the chapter ends.
The writing could also get a bit confusing because some names are alike enough to get confusing at times.
I have to admit I don't mind that some of the characters . This way we'll have a cleaner slate when the 3rd book starts.
We didn't see much of Elgar and Kelken in this book. But I feel like that will be of more import in the next one anyway. Poor Laen. I'm curious what Hewyl's arc will bring. It wouldn't be introduced with a link to the title if it wouldn't become important in the series.
I'm just curious about two things right now:
1. When does book 3 release?
2. Is this still set to be a trilogy or will it now be a quartet? With the way the pacing is done it feels like 1 more book might not be enough depending on how it's executed.
also: near the end, we have emotional impact.
This definitely was less rocky than the first book was, I can see it's a second book. Stuff got even more complex, both political intrigue wise and when looking at the number of characters as well as their dynamics. And I really liked it, even if I had to go to the Dramatis Personae a couple of times to know who certain characters were. Both from book one and newly introduced (probably).
But I think it fits. When is political intrigue ever simple and does it involve only the leaders? There are always more parties involved that cause interplay and problems for one another.
sometimes the switching of the setting can be a bit jarring, but I also expected it from The Empire's Ghost. I really like the way this is moving and I can see where the bigger arc probably is heading.
So far none of the plot twists has been extremely surprising to me (if at all) even the one mentioned on top of this review. It was shocking, but I quickly realised Arianrod must have anticipated it and incorporated it as a possibility in her plan, especially since .
I really like that a whole bunch of the scheming and plotting is done either by women or by men and women together. The female characters are strong and have both intellect and personality, something I really enjoy reading. I like characters who aren't afraid to admit they're plotting with their cunning brains mostly for their own benefit.
I also liked that we got to see some sapphic intimacy and that one of the pair was a character generally portrayed as coldhearted and aloof. I also appreciated it was probably the smartest character in the book doing it. Someone who lives by logic and strategy.
I just love a good political fantasy. Especially in a setting like this one where the implications of magic returning are a big part of what drives (almost) all of the political machinations and a lot of the character dynamics.
We even got to see some characters who are very old and were once worshipped as gods even though we now get to hear it was mostly their vanity that made them accept this as a truth. I just liked we get some insight into some of the characters behind it (I guess we've seen 3 or 4 of them so far) and a bunch of our characters has been critiquing the current Ninist religions since the previous book because it just seems strange (also old and not widely practised anymore).
The word building we get in this book is interesting too. We get more info on the God's Curse (a desert separating Issamira in the south from the rest of the continent of Lanthistyne) . Yet we still don't know what exactly it is and how it came to exist in the first place. We now know the Avestri can navigate it pretty easily (might've come up in book 1, but I'm not fully certain) and that it has something to do with the magic disappearing, or so it seems to me.
I also like the information we get about the different types of magic users as well as the sword Rhia has. There are more weapons around like that one and what they can do is interesting .
Maybe the only thing that was truly a bit surprising is that we now have an idea of the origin of Shinsei and with that came a bit more information that built up the language Lucius spoke before he travelled away from his home.
The only thing that was a bit much at times was the sheer amount of information and characters and the way the perspectives jumped around. Especially since some chapters are quite short and it can take a couple of pages to get in that plot arc again but then the chapter ends.
The writing could also get a bit confusing because some names are alike enough to get confusing at times.
I have to admit I don't mind that some of the characters . This way we'll have a cleaner slate when the 3rd book starts.
We didn't see much of Elgar and Kelken in this book. But I feel like that will be of more import in the next one anyway. Poor Laen. I'm curious what Hewyl's arc will bring. It wouldn't be introduced with a link to the title if it wouldn't become important in the series.
I'm just curious about two things right now:
1. When does book 3 release?
2. Is this still set to be a trilogy or will it now be a quartet? With the way the pacing is done it feels like 1 more book might not be enough depending on how it's executed.
August 15, 2022
Three enthusiastic stars
I read the first book in 2019, not knowing at the time it was the first in an incomplete trilogy, and a debut. It’s been almost 3 years since then, so diving back in was a bit of a challenge. Some entire characters had been forgotten, like Marceline and Shinsei, and it took me a while to get back into the swing of things. This was exacerbated by the fact that Isabelle Steiger spends a lot of time alluding to things in the first quarter of the book, without really explaining them. The opening paragraph is a great example of what I mean:
“There were times when Talis would see his face in her mind’s eye - his face as it had been, before she changed it. It was strange, and more than a little annoying. She was not one to take any note of faces, least of all those of people she’d killed.”
It is (by design) Unclear what she is talking about here. Who’s face? What change? She does this a lot up front, slowly revealing the details of what was being alluded to before being info dumped some chapters later what she’s actually saying.
This, combined with the pure number of characters, makes it challenging to catch up with, especially after a years long break. And there is no recap from the first book; but there is at least a Dramatic Personae and a map at the start of the book, so for the first quarter, I was constantly referring to these.
It paid off, and after the first quarter, the story grew much more interesting. Isabelle has imagined a very detailed world with a lot of history, both in the current scenario, the past, and each character, and we are constantly learning more and more about the conflict that is ongoing.
There were two characters that stood out to me in the first book, Arianrod Margraine, Marquise of Esthrades, and King Kelken of Reglay. Arianrod more or less stole the show last time around, and she nearly does so again. However, several of the new characters in Issamira, and the wardrenfall, added neat new dynamics to the overall cast.
I believe the book has somewhere between 15 and 20 point of view characters, all going through their own stories, making A Song of Ice and Fire an obvious comparison. Unlike that series, there is much less moral ambiguity here (and sex and death), but the story is driven by the intersection of all these people. And it works better for some characters than others. We spend a LOT more time with Arianrod Margraine, Adora, Cadfael, Seren Almasy, and so on than we do with Morgan, Deinol, Gravis, etc, so for the most part it feels like Isabelle knows who her stronger characters are.
And this is good, because I feel that is going to be what makes her stand out as an author. For a first series, a book of this scope is a tremendous undertaking, but the second half of the book had me deeply invested in most of these storylines, wondering what would happen. And it was interesting how different characters saw different slices of the whole picture. Having one baddy does help bring all the disparate storylines together.
As for downsides, well - Elgar was too absent in this book. He was not as scary this time around, and the best drama (like the dynamic between Arianrod and Seren, or the Issamira plot) had little to do with him. Kelken did not stand out as much as in the first book, I think because space had to be saved for all the new things happening. And not all characters are handled with the same deftness.
Overall, though, you could feel the increase in quality from the previous book, and even in the second half of the book compared to the first. Isabelle is growing as an author as she writes this series, and I really hope it does well because I can imagine what she’ll be capable of with the experience she gets from this.
The third book is scheduled to come out later this year, and I will probably get my hands on it as quickly as I can, before all that happened in this book fades from memory. And because I actually am invested in knowing what happens next, despite this books imperfections.
But above all, because Arianrod Margraine is a badass.
I read the first book in 2019, not knowing at the time it was the first in an incomplete trilogy, and a debut. It’s been almost 3 years since then, so diving back in was a bit of a challenge. Some entire characters had been forgotten, like Marceline and Shinsei, and it took me a while to get back into the swing of things. This was exacerbated by the fact that Isabelle Steiger spends a lot of time alluding to things in the first quarter of the book, without really explaining them. The opening paragraph is a great example of what I mean:
“There were times when Talis would see his face in her mind’s eye - his face as it had been, before she changed it. It was strange, and more than a little annoying. She was not one to take any note of faces, least of all those of people she’d killed.”
It is (by design) Unclear what she is talking about here. Who’s face? What change? She does this a lot up front, slowly revealing the details of what was being alluded to before being info dumped some chapters later what she’s actually saying.
This, combined with the pure number of characters, makes it challenging to catch up with, especially after a years long break. And there is no recap from the first book; but there is at least a Dramatic Personae and a map at the start of the book, so for the first quarter, I was constantly referring to these.
It paid off, and after the first quarter, the story grew much more interesting. Isabelle has imagined a very detailed world with a lot of history, both in the current scenario, the past, and each character, and we are constantly learning more and more about the conflict that is ongoing.
There were two characters that stood out to me in the first book, Arianrod Margraine, Marquise of Esthrades, and King Kelken of Reglay. Arianrod more or less stole the show last time around, and she nearly does so again. However, several of the new characters in Issamira, and the wardrenfall, added neat new dynamics to the overall cast.
I believe the book has somewhere between 15 and 20 point of view characters, all going through their own stories, making A Song of Ice and Fire an obvious comparison. Unlike that series, there is much less moral ambiguity here (and sex and death), but the story is driven by the intersection of all these people. And it works better for some characters than others. We spend a LOT more time with Arianrod Margraine, Adora, Cadfael, Seren Almasy, and so on than we do with Morgan, Deinol, Gravis, etc, so for the most part it feels like Isabelle knows who her stronger characters are.
And this is good, because I feel that is going to be what makes her stand out as an author. For a first series, a book of this scope is a tremendous undertaking, but the second half of the book had me deeply invested in most of these storylines, wondering what would happen. And it was interesting how different characters saw different slices of the whole picture. Having one baddy does help bring all the disparate storylines together.
As for downsides, well - Elgar was too absent in this book. He was not as scary this time around, and the best drama (like the dynamic between Arianrod and Seren, or the Issamira plot) had little to do with him. Kelken did not stand out as much as in the first book, I think because space had to be saved for all the new things happening. And not all characters are handled with the same deftness.
Overall, though, you could feel the increase in quality from the previous book, and even in the second half of the book compared to the first. Isabelle is growing as an author as she writes this series, and I really hope it does well because I can imagine what she’ll be capable of with the experience she gets from this.
The third book is scheduled to come out later this year, and I will probably get my hands on it as quickly as I can, before all that happened in this book fades from memory. And because I actually am invested in knowing what happens next, despite this books imperfections.
But above all, because Arianrod Margraine is a badass.
July 20, 2020
*** I received this book as a free copy from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press/ Thomas Dunne Books in return for an honest review ***
The plot thickens. That is one bit of good news. The second bit of good news is that the characters are still sympathetic and still detailed and well drawn with lots of POVs. As before, Isabelle delivers another intricately-plotted novel set in a detailed world. The third bit of good news is that the plot finally seems to be getting somewhere.
The bad news is that Isabelle now introduces a whole host of new characters. Just when you are sort of keeping track of all the original ones, there is a new royal family in Issamira, with its own queen and assorted other characters. There are also a new set of mages (in addition to Elgar and Arianrod in the previous book). There are embodiments of magic (the wardrenfells), there are sorts of gods prowling around being mysterious as all get out. Everyone seems to kind of agree that Elgar is the baddie and needs to be stopped but this book has not much POV from Elgar, so I found myself somewhat puzzled as to why that consensus seemed to have set in.
So once again, the bad news is that if you are looking for a clear plot-line with some idea of where the series is going, you are still screwed. It's the end of book 2 and I'm still not sure where the author is taking this series. I'm enjoying the journey, don't get me wrong, but I keep thinking to myself, are we there yet? Are we there yet? (The answer is no, in case you had not gathered that much).
I would definitely want to read the next book - even if it is only to figure out where she is going with this. But if it takes a year (or more) to come out with the next and that still ends with no resolution, it's going to be just like George R.R. Martin (minus the brutality in GoT) but just the same amount of feeling of get-on-with-it for god's sake! The readers are not going to live forever, especially not in covid times. It would be good to figure out what happens before we all die.
The plot thickens. That is one bit of good news. The second bit of good news is that the characters are still sympathetic and still detailed and well drawn with lots of POVs. As before, Isabelle delivers another intricately-plotted novel set in a detailed world. The third bit of good news is that the plot finally seems to be getting somewhere.
The bad news is that Isabelle now introduces a whole host of new characters. Just when you are sort of keeping track of all the original ones, there is a new royal family in Issamira, with its own queen and assorted other characters. There are also a new set of mages (in addition to Elgar and Arianrod in the previous book). There are embodiments of magic (the wardrenfells), there are sorts of gods prowling around being mysterious as all get out. Everyone seems to kind of agree that Elgar is the baddie and needs to be stopped but this book has not much POV from Elgar, so I found myself somewhat puzzled as to why that consensus seemed to have set in.
So once again, the bad news is that if you are looking for a clear plot-line with some idea of where the series is going, you are still screwed. It's the end of book 2 and I'm still not sure where the author is taking this series. I'm enjoying the journey, don't get me wrong, but I keep thinking to myself, are we there yet? Are we there yet? (The answer is no, in case you had not gathered that much).
I would definitely want to read the next book - even if it is only to figure out where she is going with this. But if it takes a year (or more) to come out with the next and that still ends with no resolution, it's going to be just like George R.R. Martin (minus the brutality in GoT) but just the same amount of feeling of get-on-with-it for god's sake! The readers are not going to live forever, especially not in covid times. It would be good to figure out what happens before we all die.
May 18, 2020
The Rightful Queen by author Isabelle Steiger is the second book in her epic fantasy series Paths of Lantistyne, following book one entitled The Empire's Ghost. For fans that are enamored of the Dungeons and Dragons game, viewers of the TV series Game of Thrones TV, and readers of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings anthology, this novel will equally enthrall them. Traits from each of these bodies of works can be relatable to parts in Steiger's book from the otherworldly names of territories to the magical qualities of many of the characters and the political games that ensue.
It takes a particular type of reader who finds enjoyment in Steiger's tome. The labyrinth that she weaves for the characters is intense and highly intricate, stimulating the reader's imagination to keep up with the fictional figures who each serve a purpose, pursue an agenda, and have a destiny to fulfill.
At the gist of the narration is the struggle between those who are privileged and those who are not privileged. The latter must depend on the crumbs of the privileged in society for any comforts in life. This theme is relatable to modern life and certainly attracts readers who are fascinated by this concept. Even tertiary characters serve a purpose in this novel, deepening its complexity. The plot focuses on sinister plans orchestrated by several of its characters, making political struggles the primary force driving the story, which often becomes overwhelming and may cause the reader to pause and re-read passages in order to fully grasp the series of events.
This is not a light read but rather a story that requires the reader's full attention, challenging the reader's abilities to grasp the complex natures of the characters and the game playing motives of their actions. Readers can appreciate the epic fantasy series by Steiger on several levels, whether they are stirred by the themes of the plot or not.
It takes a particular type of reader who finds enjoyment in Steiger's tome. The labyrinth that she weaves for the characters is intense and highly intricate, stimulating the reader's imagination to keep up with the fictional figures who each serve a purpose, pursue an agenda, and have a destiny to fulfill.
At the gist of the narration is the struggle between those who are privileged and those who are not privileged. The latter must depend on the crumbs of the privileged in society for any comforts in life. This theme is relatable to modern life and certainly attracts readers who are fascinated by this concept. Even tertiary characters serve a purpose in this novel, deepening its complexity. The plot focuses on sinister plans orchestrated by several of its characters, making political struggles the primary force driving the story, which often becomes overwhelming and may cause the reader to pause and re-read passages in order to fully grasp the series of events.
This is not a light read but rather a story that requires the reader's full attention, challenging the reader's abilities to grasp the complex natures of the characters and the game playing motives of their actions. Readers can appreciate the epic fantasy series by Steiger on several levels, whether they are stirred by the themes of the plot or not.
June 7, 2025
It's difficult to judge the second installment of a trilogy before you've finished the whole thing. The first can be judged as an intro, and the third as a finale – but you can't know how well the second bridges that gap until the end.
With that disclaimer out of the way, I do think The Rightful Queen contained a lot of satisfying elements of a good second installment: the world was expanded, new characters introduced, political intrigue deepened, and questions both raised and answered. I enjoyed the addition of Adora Avestri and the Issamira cast to the story, though I did lament the backseat some of my favorites had to take as a result (such as Varalen Oswhent and King Kelken).
I may have said this about the first, but Steiger puts a lot of careful time and attention into developing the internal world of her characters. They're all deeply complex and rarely inscrutable. Even Arianrod Margarine (my beloved), whose POV we never enter, feels very fleshed out through others' perceptions of her.
I enjoyed the large cast of characters, as that's part of what makes a story feel epic in scale, though I do think this also led to one of the book's weaknesses in my eyes. So many characters means there isn't enough time (even in a 500+ page novel) to let the characters come to everything in their own time. I mean that relationships at times felt rushed, with characters giving deep confessions or explanations to each other that felt unearned (see: Cadfael and Talis). And too many actions felt blatantly convenient for the plot.
Overall, there's a lot I liked here! The story and characters are plenty enough to help me overlook other flaws, and my rating is a very cheerful three stars! I am fully invested at this point, and will absolutely be checking out the third soon to see how it all ends.
With that disclaimer out of the way, I do think The Rightful Queen contained a lot of satisfying elements of a good second installment: the world was expanded, new characters introduced, political intrigue deepened, and questions both raised and answered. I enjoyed the addition of Adora Avestri and the Issamira cast to the story, though I did lament the backseat some of my favorites had to take as a result (such as Varalen Oswhent and King Kelken).
I may have said this about the first, but Steiger puts a lot of careful time and attention into developing the internal world of her characters. They're all deeply complex and rarely inscrutable. Even Arianrod Margarine (my beloved), whose POV we never enter, feels very fleshed out through others' perceptions of her.
I enjoyed the large cast of characters, as that's part of what makes a story feel epic in scale, though I do think this also led to one of the book's weaknesses in my eyes. So many characters means there isn't enough time (even in a 500+ page novel) to let the characters come to everything in their own time. I mean that relationships at times felt rushed, with characters giving deep confessions or explanations to each other that felt unearned (see: Cadfael and Talis). And too many actions felt blatantly convenient for the plot.
Overall, there's a lot I liked here! The story and characters are plenty enough to help me overlook other flaws, and my rating is a very cheerful three stars! I am fully invested at this point, and will absolutely be checking out the third soon to see how it all ends.
July 26, 2021
Wow, what a book. I just finished reading this one and my head is still full of everything. This is a series that doesn't leave you once you are done reading it. I learned that after finishing the first one. Now I know this ones going to be with me for a very long time as well.
I don't want to tell you too much about this book since it is the second one and you really do need to read the first one before you read this one. If you haven't read that one you should probably go ahead and stop here and check that one out. It's really good but I think this one might be a little better? I'm not really sure because I really enjoyed them both.
In this book, Imperator Elgar has got everything all messed up and everybody is at war. People are separated and trying to get together and a lot of people are dying off. When a queen is driven from her throne after the use of some magic that just is not supposed to be used at all things really get good. Well for the reader anyway, not so much for the folks in the book. Things get really heated in the whole battle of the rightful queen and some shifty stuff happens. I really don't want to tell you though! This book is epic and you really will be spoiled by so much! Go in blindly and do yourself a favor. It's worth it.
The writing is excellent. This is such an underrated series. Now there are quite a few people and place that you have to keep straight but that's just the way these things go. I think the world building is a tiny bit lacking but what's missing there is made up for in character and political creativity.
This series is definitely worth picking up. Sorry I didn't tell you more about it but you really need to just pick it up (after the first one mind you) and just start reading. It's so much fun.
I don't want to tell you too much about this book since it is the second one and you really do need to read the first one before you read this one. If you haven't read that one you should probably go ahead and stop here and check that one out. It's really good but I think this one might be a little better? I'm not really sure because I really enjoyed them both.
In this book, Imperator Elgar has got everything all messed up and everybody is at war. People are separated and trying to get together and a lot of people are dying off. When a queen is driven from her throne after the use of some magic that just is not supposed to be used at all things really get good. Well for the reader anyway, not so much for the folks in the book. Things get really heated in the whole battle of the rightful queen and some shifty stuff happens. I really don't want to tell you though! This book is epic and you really will be spoiled by so much! Go in blindly and do yourself a favor. It's worth it.
The writing is excellent. This is such an underrated series. Now there are quite a few people and place that you have to keep straight but that's just the way these things go. I think the world building is a tiny bit lacking but what's missing there is made up for in character and political creativity.
This series is definitely worth picking up. Sorry I didn't tell you more about it but you really need to just pick it up (after the first one mind you) and just start reading. It's so much fun.
February 7, 2023
4.5/5. I had to wait awhile for the book to become available through the library but it was definitely worth the wait and I've been binging on this since yesterday afternoon although I hadn't updated Goodreads until today. The book picks up from where things ended in the first book and we're introduced further to Adora and her brother. They were pretty minor characters, or at least seemed to be, until this book. Adora quickly became my new favorite character, she's the type of person I could spend hours talking to about books and histories and she's not as prickly as Arianrod. Arianrod remains another favorite character but she's still as prickly and not as approachable as Adora. She's also not quite as cleverly portrayed as she was in the first book but she does have her moments. As for the rest of the character's they're running around doing stuff, some questionable others understandable but they all have a role to moving the story along. While I'm not a big Marceline fan she has gained a much larger role this time around. The book is quite chunky and its a super slow burn story but does pay off. It takes a long long long time but it does. For those that have read the first book this isn't a surprise as the first one was a slow burner as well. I've got the finale on hand and I'm planning to start it within the next few hours. I can't wait to see how things get wrapped up.
July 7, 2020
Is it possible to like this book even more than the first one? Steiger has created such a fun world with dynamic characters and so many twists and turns.
The Rightful Queen picks up right where we left off in the first book. We get the same cast of characters, but we also get so much more than that. We get new characters, new plot lines, and even more questions. The plot dances around to different areas of the world, but it's fun to see how they're connected (and how they might later come together!). My favorite character is still Arianrod, but a few others are itching to steal my heart.
This book is for people who enjoy massive world building and a lot of characters (think Game of Thrones!). I didn't find it hard to keep track of all of the characters, but it's definitely not an easy and quick read. It has a lot of great plot points, plot twists, and character relationships. It's not the kind of book I could sit down and read in a day, but not because I didn't thoroughly enjoy it.
I would highly recommend this series to fantasy lovers who enjoy complex fantasies. I've found myself fully invested in the characters and I love where the plot is going. Definitely a must read in my opinion!
The Rightful Queen picks up right where we left off in the first book. We get the same cast of characters, but we also get so much more than that. We get new characters, new plot lines, and even more questions. The plot dances around to different areas of the world, but it's fun to see how they're connected (and how they might later come together!). My favorite character is still Arianrod, but a few others are itching to steal my heart.
This book is for people who enjoy massive world building and a lot of characters (think Game of Thrones!). I didn't find it hard to keep track of all of the characters, but it's definitely not an easy and quick read. It has a lot of great plot points, plot twists, and character relationships. It's not the kind of book I could sit down and read in a day, but not because I didn't thoroughly enjoy it.
I would highly recommend this series to fantasy lovers who enjoy complex fantasies. I've found myself fully invested in the characters and I love where the plot is going. Definitely a must read in my opinion!
August 21, 2020
THE RIGHTFUL QUEEN is the second book in an epic fantasy series, great for fans of GAME OF THRONES and/or FOUNDRYSIDE. This series features a huge cast of characters, and I would definitely recommend having read the first book before launching into the second. There is a handy guide at the front of the book with the full cast, but it can also be difficult jumping around and following who/where/what (not unlike GOT). That being said, the writing easily pulls the reader into a story of politics, mayhem, and magic, and I really enjoyed it.
The world-building is quite lush, and despite the number of characters, there were some that really just clicked, and I wanted to know more. There is so much happening, even if it feels like taking baby steps due to the number of characters we visit, that I was turning pages quickly. This would be a book that is hard to put down and pick up a few days later as the plot is very intricately woven and it is definitely easier to follow when read more quickly.
Overall, this is a lush and atmospheric epic fantasy that will definitely appeal to lovers of adult fantasy. Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
The world-building is quite lush, and despite the number of characters, there were some that really just clicked, and I wanted to know more. There is so much happening, even if it feels like taking baby steps due to the number of characters we visit, that I was turning pages quickly. This would be a book that is hard to put down and pick up a few days later as the plot is very intricately woven and it is definitely easier to follow when read more quickly.
Overall, this is a lush and atmospheric epic fantasy that will definitely appeal to lovers of adult fantasy. Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
October 27, 2022
The Rightful Queen Paths of Lantistyne Book 2 by Isabelle Steiger
539 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: July 21, 2020
Fiction, Historical Fiction, Sci Fi, Fantasy, Sword, Sorcery, Magic, Mages
Imperator Elgar is trying to conquer more lands within Lantistyne. Newly crowned King Kelken who just turned twelve, sneaks out his castle and arrives on the doorstep of Arianrod Margraine. Adora Avestri, the rightful queen of Issamira is declared dead. She needs the strength of a powerful mage to beat her opponent. Luckily, she just happens to know one.
The book has a steady pace, the characters are developed, and it is written in the third person point of view. This is the second book in the Paths of Lantistyne series. There is magic and sword fighting galore. I love the stone bombs and other creative forms of magic. If you like fantasy kingdom stories, you will enjoy reading this book.
539 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: July 21, 2020
Fiction, Historical Fiction, Sci Fi, Fantasy, Sword, Sorcery, Magic, Mages
Imperator Elgar is trying to conquer more lands within Lantistyne. Newly crowned King Kelken who just turned twelve, sneaks out his castle and arrives on the doorstep of Arianrod Margraine. Adora Avestri, the rightful queen of Issamira is declared dead. She needs the strength of a powerful mage to beat her opponent. Luckily, she just happens to know one.
The book has a steady pace, the characters are developed, and it is written in the third person point of view. This is the second book in the Paths of Lantistyne series. There is magic and sword fighting galore. I love the stone bombs and other creative forms of magic. If you like fantasy kingdom stories, you will enjoy reading this book.
July 19, 2020
I enjoyed "The Rightful Queen" much more than I did "The Empires Ghost". The character development was much better - both for existing characters, and those that were added to the second book. I also thought the plots of the various characters were much better laid out and had better purpose than the first book.
"The Rightful Queen" had some very good adventure sub-plots that kept me engaged. I particularly liked the addition of the Adora character, the fact that she was conflicted over her situation, and her growth through the course of the book. I also appreciated that Marceline's role was expanded upon and that she was much better developed in the second book.
Going into the second book I wasn't sure that I would continue the series, but now that I've finished it I look forward to the third.
"The Rightful Queen" had some very good adventure sub-plots that kept me engaged. I particularly liked the addition of the Adora character, the fact that she was conflicted over her situation, and her growth through the course of the book. I also appreciated that Marceline's role was expanded upon and that she was much better developed in the second book.
Going into the second book I wasn't sure that I would continue the series, but now that I've finished it I look forward to the third.
August 17, 2020
Check out my review of The Empire’s Ghost and The Rightful Queen here: https://youtu.be/26IDNaiAFhM
The Rightful Queen is the sequel to The Empire’s Ghost and continues the story of all of our characters going on their different journeys, trying to defeat Elgear who wants to conquer all their countries.
I enjoyed this much more than the first book in the series. The characters I liked really fell into place here and I kept falling in love with some a lot! I still think there is next to none in pacing, but still things happen in the “small plots”. I did enjoy myself more, but still struggled with the writing. I love the see the magic come out and other parts of the story grow! I just feel like how we ended here was where we should have ended in book 1 lol! I would recommend this for fantasy fans, tho! 3/5 stars.
The Rightful Queen is the sequel to The Empire’s Ghost and continues the story of all of our characters going on their different journeys, trying to defeat Elgear who wants to conquer all their countries.
I enjoyed this much more than the first book in the series. The characters I liked really fell into place here and I kept falling in love with some a lot! I still think there is next to none in pacing, but still things happen in the “small plots”. I did enjoy myself more, but still struggled with the writing. I love the see the magic come out and other parts of the story grow! I just feel like how we ended here was where we should have ended in book 1 lol! I would recommend this for fantasy fans, tho! 3/5 stars.
December 16, 2022
The Rightful Queen picks up right where Empire’s Ghost left off and is much easier to get into now that so much of the world and characters have been established. I also found the writing and flow to be more cohesive which made it easier to really get into and stay in the story.
While it does pick up right away with somewhat less info dumping, it is just such a massive story with the number of main characters that it is jumping between, that it was a kind of odd duality of some of the individual sections feeling fast-paced and having some urgency, but the story overall being a very slow burn.
One thing I was hoping for after reading the first book is that the characters would get a little more developed this time, given more layers and depth…and I do feel like that mostly happened. It is a large cast so realistically there’s only so much space to devote to really getting deeply into everyone but I definitely had clear favorites that I was especially rooting for by the end and I’m looking forward to diving straight into book three to see how everything wraps up.
While it does pick up right away with somewhat less info dumping, it is just such a massive story with the number of main characters that it is jumping between, that it was a kind of odd duality of some of the individual sections feeling fast-paced and having some urgency, but the story overall being a very slow burn.
One thing I was hoping for after reading the first book is that the characters would get a little more developed this time, given more layers and depth…and I do feel like that mostly happened. It is a large cast so realistically there’s only so much space to devote to really getting deeply into everyone but I definitely had clear favorites that I was especially rooting for by the end and I’m looking forward to diving straight into book three to see how everything wraps up.
January 8, 2023
I am reviewing the entire series because I struggled through book one but was very glad that I continued the series because I really enjoyed books 2 and 3. I normally DNF books that I am struggling through but I really enjoyed the world building in this one and the writing is lovely. The issue I ran into in book one was that there were far too many POV's. While there are often a lot of POV's in fantasy books this one had too many too early, which meant I didn't care about most of them. I will also note that this is a series where you immediately need the next book because everything is left so open ended. Books 2 and 3 were very well done. The characters were far more fleshed out and had a lot more depth and likeability. I loved the world building, the intrigue and the writing. If you're a fan of fantasies this is a series worth checking out!
February 26, 2024
Heads up you should read The Empire's Ghost before diving into this one
The Rightful Queen takes us back to Lantistyne where the multitude of characters is once again woven into an epic fantasy tale. I enjoyed how she tied up some loose ends for us from the first book while leaving enough breadcrumbs to leave us wanting a third book.
Steigler excels at the following:
- Writing history-rich and descriptive novels
- Making multiple POVs easy and entertaining
- Intricate worldbuilding with complex plotlines
- Developing real women whom female readers can relate to
I cannot wait to see whats in store for the next novel.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review. You can follow me on IG @JessicaReadsIt.
The Rightful Queen takes us back to Lantistyne where the multitude of characters is once again woven into an epic fantasy tale. I enjoyed how she tied up some loose ends for us from the first book while leaving enough breadcrumbs to leave us wanting a third book.
Steigler excels at the following:
- Writing history-rich and descriptive novels
- Making multiple POVs easy and entertaining
- Intricate worldbuilding with complex plotlines
- Developing real women whom female readers can relate to
I cannot wait to see whats in store for the next novel.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review. You can follow me on IG @JessicaReadsIt.
January 10, 2022
The Rightful Queen by Isabelle Steiger
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This is the second book in a new fantasy series. The first book is The Empire’s Ghost.
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This fantasy has a lot going on. There are multiple countries on the continent, ruled by various people. One country has an ambitiour ruler named Elgar, who appears determined to conquer the entire continent. There is hints of magic, which existed years ago, coming back. There are legends of a group of rulers called The Ninists, that I am anxious to know more about. And throughout it all there is a group of friends who hang out in a tavern that we follow and I kind of love them.
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I really enjoyed this second book, and have new favorite characters that weren’t mentioned much or at all in the first book. I am looking forward to more from this series whenever I can get it!!
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The world building in this is done very well. Just keep in mind that world building takes time and fantasy books don’t read the same as quick thrillers. You’re in it for the long haul and at the end you’ll have an amazing rich world that you wish you could live in and be devastated that it’s over.
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4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really liked the things that happened in this story and the set ups for what could happen next have me really excited.
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This is the second book in a new fantasy series. The first book is The Empire’s Ghost.
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This fantasy has a lot going on. There are multiple countries on the continent, ruled by various people. One country has an ambitiour ruler named Elgar, who appears determined to conquer the entire continent. There is hints of magic, which existed years ago, coming back. There are legends of a group of rulers called The Ninists, that I am anxious to know more about. And throughout it all there is a group of friends who hang out in a tavern that we follow and I kind of love them.
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I really enjoyed this second book, and have new favorite characters that weren’t mentioned much or at all in the first book. I am looking forward to more from this series whenever I can get it!!
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The world building in this is done very well. Just keep in mind that world building takes time and fantasy books don’t read the same as quick thrillers. You’re in it for the long haul and at the end you’ll have an amazing rich world that you wish you could live in and be devastated that it’s over.
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4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really liked the things that happened in this story and the set ups for what could happen next have me really excited.
April 6, 2023
This series has been a bit of sleeper hit. I haven't seen hardly anyone speaking about these books but the second installment was exceptionally well done. The story found it's pacing, the characters stories stars unfolding and intertwining nicely. The magic is growing as well as the deep lore of the world.
This is a good series for those who love the political intrigue and mystery of a game of thrones style story, with a character focus, that centers a lot of really uniquely capable female leads.
I really loved book 2, there were a lot of improvements in the writing from book 1 and I'm interested to see how the story ends!
This is a good series for those who love the political intrigue and mystery of a game of thrones style story, with a character focus, that centers a lot of really uniquely capable female leads.
I really loved book 2, there were a lot of improvements in the writing from book 1 and I'm interested to see how the story ends!
November 4, 2020
An extremely well written but very intricate story. The first one heaped on piles of information plus multiple characters but didn't do it seamlessly. This one not only piled on the information but roped in tons of character both old and new, but did it beautifully. This book needs your entire attention as there is so much going on. Its definitely a book you need to take your time on but its beautifully written. I cant wait to see where the next book takes the story and the characters. This one did have a lot more adult themes to it but it was tastefully done and added so much to the story.
Want to read
December 9, 2020Second in the series this book is a little more of a slow burn, but no less engaging. In fact the writing is certainly better than the first and the richness of the world makes the reader feel as if they are there in the book. One of the most notable things about this series is the richness of the female characters in particular. I think those of us who have fallen in love with this series will be impatiently waiting for book 3.
February 20, 2025
I stand by what I said about the first book in this series, it was laying the ground work for something; and this was it. The complexity of how so many people across so many countries are intertwined was impressive. The narration is interesting, they are omnipotent, but unreliable. More than once you’ll hear about a character twice and not know they’re the same person until later, but it didn’t feel like a trick or forced, it was natural.
July 24, 2020
This is the first book I read in this series and I think it's engrossing and entertaining.
I had no great issues with the characters or the plot and it didn't take a long to be hooked by the story.
The world building and the characters are interesting and I liked the storytelling.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I had no great issues with the characters or the plot and it didn't take a long to be hooked by the story.
The world building and the characters are interesting and I liked the storytelling.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
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