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The Goddess War #2
The Queen of Izmoroz
Sonya has brought a foreign army to free her country from imperial rule, but her allies may have other goals in the second book of this thrilling epic fantasy trilogy from Jon Skovron.
The first battle is over, but war yet looms on the horizon. Sonya and her allies--the foreign Uaine and their armies of the undead--have beaten back the imperial soldiers from the capital city. Now they have the rest of the country to free.
Meanwhile, her brother the famed wizard Sebastian has retreated with the imperial forces to regroup and lick his wounds. Betrayed by his sister and his wife, the beautiful noblewoman Galina, he will regain control of his life and his country at any cost.
The first battle is over, but war yet looms on the horizon. Sonya and her allies--the foreign Uaine and their armies of the undead--have beaten back the imperial soldiers from the capital city. Now they have the rest of the country to free.
Meanwhile, her brother the famed wizard Sebastian has retreated with the imperial forces to regroup and lick his wounds. Betrayed by his sister and his wife, the beautiful noblewoman Galina, he will regain control of his life and his country at any cost.
438 pages, Paperback
First published April 20, 2021
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July 27, 2022
3.0 Stars
This was a decent sequel that was stronger than the first book in the series. I like the basic plot, but I still found the characters and plotting to be quite weak. Regardless I am interested enough to see this trilogy through to the end.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This was a decent sequel that was stronger than the first book in the series. I like the basic plot, but I still found the characters and plotting to be quite weak. Regardless I am interested enough to see this trilogy through to the end.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
May 29, 2023
I actually enjoyed this more than the first book in the trilogy! How often does that happen?! I thought there were some interesting character arcs, new characters, plots, and a lot I didn’t see coming. Looking forward to book 3!
April 23, 2021
One Sentence Summary: Now that Sonya and the Uaine have driven the empire out of Izmoroz, a tapestry of maneuvers and plots are set in motion to change the lives of Sonya, her brother Sebastian, and Sebastian’s former intended Galina.
I really enjoyed the first book in the trilogy, The Ranger of Marzanna, so I was eager to leap back into the world and the lives of two siblings at odds with each other in The Queen of Izmoroz. I love that this series focuses on siblings and that they’re on opposite sides, but, as we see glimmers of it in the first book, they might not be too different from each other. This is turning into a wonderful series not just about a fantasy world and military and political maneuvering, but also of family and siblings. This second installment was a lot of fun to read, and I look forward to seeing how it concludes.
The Plot: The Separate Paths of Siblings
Following the events of The Ranger of Marzanna, a new set of events have been touched off for siblings Sonya and Sebastian and everyone they know.
After her victory alongside the Uaine she recruited, the people have unexpectedly turned from Sonya, forcing her leave with her new friend Jorge. Feeling adrift, especially when the truth of her goddess’s blessings come to light, she willingly goes with him to his home country of Raíz. But the people there, while happy to embrace her, are more interested in what she can do to help liberate them from the empire.
Sebastian has chosen to travel to the Aureumian Empire’s capital alongside his mother, his commander, and a general. But he begins to question his own role and where he belongs. Reassigned by the Queen, he finds himself with a company that’s weary but has no choice but to follow orders in Kante. Meanwhile, his mother has been recruited as something of a spy in the capital while a deadly force is preparing to bear down on them.
Galina has dreams of making Izmoroz greater than it was before. But the men in charge appear to be interested in doing nothing more than yell at each other and take their time rebuilding the country. Frustrated, she takes things into her own hands, especially as she witnesses first hand the desperation of her people.
As with The Ranger of Marzanna, I really enjoyed The Queen of Izmoroz. I love everything about the world and adore the characters. My favorite part is it’s centered around one family, particularly siblings who seem to have nothing in common. It’s not a particularly complex story, but there’s still a ton in it, making it easy to follow and surprisingly easy to read.
The sister-brother dynamic is the whole reason why I wanted to read the first book. I loved it so much that I couldn’t wait to see what would happen to them in the next book. They’re so different, their ideas seemingly oceans apart. But they’re still tied together. The push and pull between sibling love and sibling hate is so present and so well done that I often feel Sonya and Sebastian are the whole reason I’m even reading and loving this series.
Really, the characters make the series for me, but I also really like that there’s so much going on. There’s this empire that’s taken over almost the entire continent and another country that’s so out of the way no one knows much about them, but I get the feeling they’re not too different from the empire. The characters slip and slide all over the place and everyone has different ideas, especially when it comes to how to rule, that I couldn’t help but be sucked into the story. I loved the layers, the intrigue, the switching of sides. I loved the secrets and the distrust that seemed to flower almost everywhere.
The Characters: Full of Personality
As I mentioned, the characters really make the story. They’re all incredible and so unique that I hardly ever mixed any of them up. The Queen of Izmoroz neither has too many nor too few characters. Sometimes I can seem like there are maybe a few too many viewpoints the story is told from, but I could see how every single one of them was necessary and important. Good thing they were easy to tease apart from all the others. But I was most impressed with how all the secondary characters really stood out well. The tertiary ones did blend together a bit, but the more important characters were all incredible.
My favorite characterizations are, of course, Sonya and Sebastian. Not only do they lead very different lives, but they also have different values and ideals. Though The Queen of Izmoroz saw them start to realign. I loved how everything there is to know about them was really couched in the way they spoke and behaved. Sonya feels more like a free spirit and has a very common and casual manner of speech. She’s always ready to leap without thinking and is quite the protector. Sebastian, on the other hand, is more thoughtful and, well, better mannered. He acts the way one would expect a noble’s son to act. He has the tact and decorum his sister lacks. It was fun to see them interact, though they were mostly separated throughout the book. They were, though, never too far from each other’s thoughts, which was really sweet.
I can’t not mention Galina or my favorite character, Jorge. Galina comes off as young and innocent, but underneath is a spine of steel. She’s extremely well-read and very intelligent, and isn’t above using manipulation. She seemed a bit softer, a bit more noble, in the first book, but she quickly shook off that mantle in this one. I loved how her character evolved, and why it had to evolve. She was amazing and I’m really starting to love her. Then there’s Jorge, Sonya’s friend from the colorful and warm country of Raíz, a Spanish-influenced world. In the first book, there are hints at his past, but this book dove him head first back into his roots and family. It was so much fun to see him back at home and see just how different and similar he is to his family. But, through it all, he was still the levelheaded young man I really liked. Of all the characters, he was the least likely to engage in guile and intrigue and just seemed to keep it simple. He’s a nice anchor in a world that seems to be going mad.
The Setting: An Earth-Inspired World
While The Ranger of Marzanna was centered on Izmoroz, The Queen of Izmoroz just bursts the world wide open. Not only do we get to explore the entire continent, but we also get glimmers of the world beyond.
The only disappointment with the world is that each country is a thinly veiled one from our world. Izmoroz is clearly Russian/Eastern European, Uaine is Scottish (definitely not the kind of Scotland I’d like to visit, though), Kante is Germanic, Raíz is Spanish, and then there’s the continent across the ocean that seems to be Middle Eastern inspired, though I could be wrong. There were no pains taken to hide any of it. Indeed, Skovron used words from the respective languages to further cement the parallels.
On the other hand, the thinly disguised countries did make it a lot easier to ease into this world and figure it out. It felt comforting and familiar while also adding a layer of unrest and political intrigue that could really shine. I liked that the world building seemed simple and was easy enough to figure out and remember in order to better focus on the story. I really, really loved that this book cracked the world wide open, and can’t wait to see where we go in the last book.
Overall: Many Excellent Threads
I really enjoyed The Queen of Izmoroz. I enjoyed the first book, but I think I loved this one more. There was so much going on, so many intricacies, and even some traitorous deeds. I felt the whole story was handled with a deft hand and I never felt I could really predict what was going to happen. The sibling story continues to be well done and all of the characters were wonderful and quite human. I loved getting to see the wider world and how it helped to paint a bigger picture of people’s feelings about the empire. I can’t wait to see what the last book has in store for readers.
Thank you to Angela Man at Orbit and NetGalley for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
I really enjoyed the first book in the trilogy, The Ranger of Marzanna, so I was eager to leap back into the world and the lives of two siblings at odds with each other in The Queen of Izmoroz. I love that this series focuses on siblings and that they’re on opposite sides, but, as we see glimmers of it in the first book, they might not be too different from each other. This is turning into a wonderful series not just about a fantasy world and military and political maneuvering, but also of family and siblings. This second installment was a lot of fun to read, and I look forward to seeing how it concludes.
The Plot: The Separate Paths of Siblings
Following the events of The Ranger of Marzanna, a new set of events have been touched off for siblings Sonya and Sebastian and everyone they know.
After her victory alongside the Uaine she recruited, the people have unexpectedly turned from Sonya, forcing her leave with her new friend Jorge. Feeling adrift, especially when the truth of her goddess’s blessings come to light, she willingly goes with him to his home country of Raíz. But the people there, while happy to embrace her, are more interested in what she can do to help liberate them from the empire.
Sebastian has chosen to travel to the Aureumian Empire’s capital alongside his mother, his commander, and a general. But he begins to question his own role and where he belongs. Reassigned by the Queen, he finds himself with a company that’s weary but has no choice but to follow orders in Kante. Meanwhile, his mother has been recruited as something of a spy in the capital while a deadly force is preparing to bear down on them.
Galina has dreams of making Izmoroz greater than it was before. But the men in charge appear to be interested in doing nothing more than yell at each other and take their time rebuilding the country. Frustrated, she takes things into her own hands, especially as she witnesses first hand the desperation of her people.
As with The Ranger of Marzanna, I really enjoyed The Queen of Izmoroz. I love everything about the world and adore the characters. My favorite part is it’s centered around one family, particularly siblings who seem to have nothing in common. It’s not a particularly complex story, but there’s still a ton in it, making it easy to follow and surprisingly easy to read.
The sister-brother dynamic is the whole reason why I wanted to read the first book. I loved it so much that I couldn’t wait to see what would happen to them in the next book. They’re so different, their ideas seemingly oceans apart. But they’re still tied together. The push and pull between sibling love and sibling hate is so present and so well done that I often feel Sonya and Sebastian are the whole reason I’m even reading and loving this series.
Really, the characters make the series for me, but I also really like that there’s so much going on. There’s this empire that’s taken over almost the entire continent and another country that’s so out of the way no one knows much about them, but I get the feeling they’re not too different from the empire. The characters slip and slide all over the place and everyone has different ideas, especially when it comes to how to rule, that I couldn’t help but be sucked into the story. I loved the layers, the intrigue, the switching of sides. I loved the secrets and the distrust that seemed to flower almost everywhere.
The Characters: Full of Personality
As I mentioned, the characters really make the story. They’re all incredible and so unique that I hardly ever mixed any of them up. The Queen of Izmoroz neither has too many nor too few characters. Sometimes I can seem like there are maybe a few too many viewpoints the story is told from, but I could see how every single one of them was necessary and important. Good thing they were easy to tease apart from all the others. But I was most impressed with how all the secondary characters really stood out well. The tertiary ones did blend together a bit, but the more important characters were all incredible.
My favorite characterizations are, of course, Sonya and Sebastian. Not only do they lead very different lives, but they also have different values and ideals. Though The Queen of Izmoroz saw them start to realign. I loved how everything there is to know about them was really couched in the way they spoke and behaved. Sonya feels more like a free spirit and has a very common and casual manner of speech. She’s always ready to leap without thinking and is quite the protector. Sebastian, on the other hand, is more thoughtful and, well, better mannered. He acts the way one would expect a noble’s son to act. He has the tact and decorum his sister lacks. It was fun to see them interact, though they were mostly separated throughout the book. They were, though, never too far from each other’s thoughts, which was really sweet.
I can’t not mention Galina or my favorite character, Jorge. Galina comes off as young and innocent, but underneath is a spine of steel. She’s extremely well-read and very intelligent, and isn’t above using manipulation. She seemed a bit softer, a bit more noble, in the first book, but she quickly shook off that mantle in this one. I loved how her character evolved, and why it had to evolve. She was amazing and I’m really starting to love her. Then there’s Jorge, Sonya’s friend from the colorful and warm country of Raíz, a Spanish-influenced world. In the first book, there are hints at his past, but this book dove him head first back into his roots and family. It was so much fun to see him back at home and see just how different and similar he is to his family. But, through it all, he was still the levelheaded young man I really liked. Of all the characters, he was the least likely to engage in guile and intrigue and just seemed to keep it simple. He’s a nice anchor in a world that seems to be going mad.
The Setting: An Earth-Inspired World
While The Ranger of Marzanna was centered on Izmoroz, The Queen of Izmoroz just bursts the world wide open. Not only do we get to explore the entire continent, but we also get glimmers of the world beyond.
The only disappointment with the world is that each country is a thinly veiled one from our world. Izmoroz is clearly Russian/Eastern European, Uaine is Scottish (definitely not the kind of Scotland I’d like to visit, though), Kante is Germanic, Raíz is Spanish, and then there’s the continent across the ocean that seems to be Middle Eastern inspired, though I could be wrong. There were no pains taken to hide any of it. Indeed, Skovron used words from the respective languages to further cement the parallels.
On the other hand, the thinly disguised countries did make it a lot easier to ease into this world and figure it out. It felt comforting and familiar while also adding a layer of unrest and political intrigue that could really shine. I liked that the world building seemed simple and was easy enough to figure out and remember in order to better focus on the story. I really, really loved that this book cracked the world wide open, and can’t wait to see where we go in the last book.
Overall: Many Excellent Threads
I really enjoyed The Queen of Izmoroz. I enjoyed the first book, but I think I loved this one more. There was so much going on, so many intricacies, and even some traitorous deeds. I felt the whole story was handled with a deft hand and I never felt I could really predict what was going to happen. The sibling story continues to be well done and all of the characters were wonderful and quite human. I loved getting to see the wider world and how it helped to paint a bigger picture of people’s feelings about the empire. I can’t wait to see what the last book has in store for readers.
Thank you to Angela Man at Orbit and NetGalley for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
April 20, 2021
“𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻. 𝗨𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻, 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁.”
MY RATING: 4.5/5⭐️
Multiple POVs, intriguing characters, unassuming political intrigue, and a fast-paced plot made this impossible to put down! Oh how the gods like to play. I do love a good deity rivalry. These gods are ruthless and unforgiving. Humans of the mortal realm are simply game pieces to them. Here we have two female deities, sisters intent on out-maneuvering one another, forming the backbone of the story. Our cast of characters are merely pawns. I enjoyed this perspective.
The chapters moved fast, speeding readers me the story. Each followed a different character jumping between Sonya, Sebastian, Jorge, Irina, and a few more minor characters. They played very different roles, faced struggles of their own, portrayed both strengths and weaknesses. Most importantly, they endeared themselves to me. With some multi-POV books, I can get a little jaded and choose favorites. Not so here. I was excited for EVERY switch. Eager to see what was happening. Skovron’s writing style is like popcorn kernels going off, each pop a new and engaging form of entertainment.
But what I liked most was the deep level of political intrigue lurking in the background. It did not outshine the plot or the characters. It was woven so seamlessly that it never once took away from the story. Politics written for a story rather than a story written for politics. Story first, politics second. As it should be to highlight character arcs.
Speaking of, we see two distinct character arcs. Sebastian’s and Sonya’s. Sonya’s was related to her identity and perhaps more shocking. She was forced to question everything she held so firmly to.
“𝗦𝗼𝗻𝘆𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀. 𝗕𝗶𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝘆𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝘇𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗹𝗲𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝘀𝗵𝗲’𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝘆𝗮’𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀, 𝗴𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗵. 𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝘆𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱?”
But Sebastian also faced a moral questioning. This started from the beginning as he began to reflect on the events of the past book. Guilt. Morality. Death. All of these things came together and forced him to question his beliefs.
“𝗪𝗮𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿-𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗹𝘀, 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻’𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲.”
I enjoyed this one almost as much as the first one. It had a slightly different feel, because there wasn’t one common cause. In the last one, defeating the empire and driving them from Izmoroz was really the only focus. This book had a broader scope. It moved faster, and didn’t give quite as much deep detail. Events were skimmed a bit more. But that was necessary to tell the story, I think.
I think this is the kind of fantasy that will appeal to a wide audience. It’s got a some really cool magic systems, tons of fighting, plenty of political intrigue and world building. It really feels like a full package.
I wanted to give it 5 stars like the first book, but I’ve actually become a much harsher critic since my early days of reviewing books. While I don’t plan to demote my rating on the first book, I think I’m going t go with a solid 4.5 on this one. It was close to what I consider a 5 star. Very close.
Thanks so much to Orbit for sending me a pre-publication copy in exchange for a review!
“𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴? 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗼𝘄𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺, 𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵, 𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗿? 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝘁 f𝗲e𝗱 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱, 𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲, 𝗼𝗿 𝗸𝗲����𝗽 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗺?”
“𝗗𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀.”
“𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗮𝘁. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝘆𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲.”
MY RATING: 4.5/5⭐️
Multiple POVs, intriguing characters, unassuming political intrigue, and a fast-paced plot made this impossible to put down! Oh how the gods like to play. I do love a good deity rivalry. These gods are ruthless and unforgiving. Humans of the mortal realm are simply game pieces to them. Here we have two female deities, sisters intent on out-maneuvering one another, forming the backbone of the story. Our cast of characters are merely pawns. I enjoyed this perspective.
The chapters moved fast, speeding readers me the story. Each followed a different character jumping between Sonya, Sebastian, Jorge, Irina, and a few more minor characters. They played very different roles, faced struggles of their own, portrayed both strengths and weaknesses. Most importantly, they endeared themselves to me. With some multi-POV books, I can get a little jaded and choose favorites. Not so here. I was excited for EVERY switch. Eager to see what was happening. Skovron’s writing style is like popcorn kernels going off, each pop a new and engaging form of entertainment.
But what I liked most was the deep level of political intrigue lurking in the background. It did not outshine the plot or the characters. It was woven so seamlessly that it never once took away from the story. Politics written for a story rather than a story written for politics. Story first, politics second. As it should be to highlight character arcs.
Speaking of, we see two distinct character arcs. Sebastian’s and Sonya’s. Sonya’s was related to her identity and perhaps more shocking. She was forced to question everything she held so firmly to.
“𝗦𝗼𝗻𝘆𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀. 𝗕𝗶𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝘆𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝘇𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗹𝗲𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝘀𝗵𝗲’𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝘆𝗮’𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀, 𝗴𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗵. 𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝘆𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱?”
But Sebastian also faced a moral questioning. This started from the beginning as he began to reflect on the events of the past book. Guilt. Morality. Death. All of these things came together and forced him to question his beliefs.
“𝗪𝗮𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿-𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗹𝘀, 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻’𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲.”
I enjoyed this one almost as much as the first one. It had a slightly different feel, because there wasn’t one common cause. In the last one, defeating the empire and driving them from Izmoroz was really the only focus. This book had a broader scope. It moved faster, and didn’t give quite as much deep detail. Events were skimmed a bit more. But that was necessary to tell the story, I think.
I think this is the kind of fantasy that will appeal to a wide audience. It’s got a some really cool magic systems, tons of fighting, plenty of political intrigue and world building. It really feels like a full package.
I wanted to give it 5 stars like the first book, but I’ve actually become a much harsher critic since my early days of reviewing books. While I don’t plan to demote my rating on the first book, I think I’m going t go with a solid 4.5 on this one. It was close to what I consider a 5 star. Very close.
Thanks so much to Orbit for sending me a pre-publication copy in exchange for a review!
“𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴? 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗼𝘄𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺, 𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵, 𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗿? 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝘁 f𝗲e𝗱 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱, 𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲, 𝗼𝗿 𝗸𝗲����𝗽 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗺?”
“𝗗𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀.”
“𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗮𝘁. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝘆𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲.”
April 1, 2021
Find my reviews at Feminist Quill
WARNING: Spoilers for Book 1: The Ranger of Marzanna
DISCLAIMER: I received a free copy of the book from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Driven out of the newly independent Izmoroz, a defeated Sonya Turgenev Portinari heads to the nation of Raiz with her friend Jorge. Meanwhile, Sebastian tries to reorient himself to life at the opulent Imperial palace, trying to understand his place as a soldier, a wizard, and a brother.
The hallmark of a good sequel is an expansion of the universe. An escalation – geographically, magically, in terms of character development… and even spiritually, in terms of the message the book aspires to send.
The Queen of Izmoroz follows Sonya, Sebastian, Jorge, Galina and other familiar characters from The Ranger of Marzanna as they recover from and react to the aftermath of the battle that led to the expulsion of the Aureumian Empire from Izmoroz at the end of the first book.
We are taken to regions that were only hinted at in ROM, such as Kante and Raiz, and even newer regions are mentioned by name, adding to the mystique around the political machinations of the Empire. The mythology is also expanded as we get more glimpses of the mysterious goddesses of this land – Marzanna, Zivena and more. However, these interludes remain tantalizing tidbits, keeping the reader on the hook until the final book in the trilogy.
For almost all the characters, this book represents a departure from the confidence and carefree natures they exhibited in in ROM. They are subdued and humbled – regardless of which side of the conflict they were on – by the horrors of war and the unexpected twists of fate and politics that followed. The growth that comes as a result is measured and impactful, rather than dramatic without serving any purpose.
Skovron’s characters occupy grey areas as they question their own actions while still doing their best with the information available to them. Their positions are fluid and the roles they play in the plot flexible – a protagonist might pivot towards villainy, and vice versa, with great ease. I always enjoy reading about characters that have just the right hint of moral flexibility – whether it’s due to ignorance, youth, great emotion, profit, or for the heck of it.
It is also easy to see that the majority of these characters are – despite the magnitude and impact of their actions – still children. They display innocence and vulnerability as often as they do ferocity and bravery.
The universe of The Goddess War series is fascinating – not just in terms of the actual religious pantheons in it, or the magical practices, but also in terms of the various nations and their differing cultural backgrounds. The action scenes are well-paced and extremely well written, making it easy to mentally picture these fantastic scenes of violence and magic.
The plot itself develops smoothly – despite hiccups with the tone and structure of the dialogue that persist in this book. It is difficult to guess at the ending even as the book is almost finished, and every scene is written with great care and precision, maximizing their impact and setting up for an exciting finish in The Wizard of Eventide (which I am greatly looking forward to).
Review of Book 1: The Ranger of Marzanna
WARNING: Spoilers for Book 1: The Ranger of Marzanna
DISCLAIMER: I received a free copy of the book from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Driven out of the newly independent Izmoroz, a defeated Sonya Turgenev Portinari heads to the nation of Raiz with her friend Jorge. Meanwhile, Sebastian tries to reorient himself to life at the opulent Imperial palace, trying to understand his place as a soldier, a wizard, and a brother.
“It does not seem fair that we be punished for the sins of our fathers. Yet we cannot ignore the unearned bounties we have reaped as their progeny. What, then, is justice?”
~ Fyodor Botkin, The Izmorozian Dream
The hallmark of a good sequel is an expansion of the universe. An escalation – geographically, magically, in terms of character development… and even spiritually, in terms of the message the book aspires to send.
The Queen of Izmoroz follows Sonya, Sebastian, Jorge, Galina and other familiar characters from The Ranger of Marzanna as they recover from and react to the aftermath of the battle that led to the expulsion of the Aureumian Empire from Izmoroz at the end of the first book.
We are taken to regions that were only hinted at in ROM, such as Kante and Raiz, and even newer regions are mentioned by name, adding to the mystique around the political machinations of the Empire. The mythology is also expanded as we get more glimpses of the mysterious goddesses of this land – Marzanna, Zivena and more. However, these interludes remain tantalizing tidbits, keeping the reader on the hook until the final book in the trilogy.
For almost all the characters, this book represents a departure from the confidence and carefree natures they exhibited in in ROM. They are subdued and humbled – regardless of which side of the conflict they were on – by the horrors of war and the unexpected twists of fate and politics that followed. The growth that comes as a result is measured and impactful, rather than dramatic without serving any purpose.
Now, as she looked down at the blubbering, weeping child, she saw him not as a concept or commodity, but as a person.
~Galina Odoyevtseva Prozorova
Skovron’s characters occupy grey areas as they question their own actions while still doing their best with the information available to them. Their positions are fluid and the roles they play in the plot flexible – a protagonist might pivot towards villainy, and vice versa, with great ease. I always enjoy reading about characters that have just the right hint of moral flexibility – whether it’s due to ignorance, youth, great emotion, profit, or for the heck of it.
It is also easy to see that the majority of these characters are – despite the magnitude and impact of their actions – still children. They display innocence and vulnerability as often as they do ferocity and bravery.
The universe of The Goddess War series is fascinating – not just in terms of the actual religious pantheons in it, or the magical practices, but also in terms of the various nations and their differing cultural backgrounds. The action scenes are well-paced and extremely well written, making it easy to mentally picture these fantastic scenes of violence and magic.
The plot itself develops smoothly – despite hiccups with the tone and structure of the dialogue that persist in this book. It is difficult to guess at the ending even as the book is almost finished, and every scene is written with great care and precision, maximizing their impact and setting up for an exciting finish in The Wizard of Eventide (which I am greatly looking forward to).
Review of Book 1: The Ranger of Marzanna
August 4, 2021
This was one of my most anticipated sequels for 2021, having fallen in love with the Ranger of Marzanna when I read it last year and I was not disappointed. I did find that this one took a little longer to find its stride than the last one, but at the same time Skovron certainly turned the dial up with this one across the board and I loved it.
The Queen of Izmoroz is a book of growth. We get to see more of the fabulous world that had started to be established in the first book, and expands on that exponentially, both in geographical terms with opening up regions that had previously just been names of the page and letting us see more of the Empire and how it relates to its various parts, but also in terms of the culture. Mythology has always played a central role in this series – and the ending of the first book highlighted that, but before there were lots of hints and glimpses, but it was limited in scope. In this book Skovron delves deeper into the mythology and shows us more tantalising glimpses of the goddesses that give the series its name – while still maintaining that mystery and sense of increasing stakes and tension, drawing us towards the next book in the series. (I want to know more, but I also want to see what he is going to do with it). With this also comes more variety and deeper diving into the various religious pantheons, beliefs and related magical practices between the different cultures and nations, and the diversity and division that brings – so the world feels as though it has grown exponentially here and I honestly love how Skovron has brought it on.
There is also character growth, both in terms of experience and skills as many of the characters we followed in the first book, especially Sonya and Sebastian were still learning, and finding their feet in the roles they had found themselves in – and while there was a lot of growth there, their development feels a lot more impactful in the Queen of Izmoroz. This is largely because the confidence (often over-confidence – looking at Sonya) and almost naïve natures of the characters have been shattered. It creates an interesting situation where the characters almost feel as though they have shrunk in on themselves, no longer shouting for the world to see them and applaud them – reeling from the consequences of their choices, and their experiences from the Ranger of Marzanna – on both sides of the conflict.
Yet, within this almost ‘retreat’ we see some of the most impactful growth, and Skovron is skilful in his deflation of everything these characters thought they were (again highlighting that naïvety, and almost childlike innocence – because they were young), and turning it into very real and believable experience, and it really brings the characters to life and it is wonderful to see them coming into their own – not cleanly, but messily and in shades of grey and so very human. It’s great to see the consequences of what happened in the first book playing out so vividly on the page, and for it to have such a real impact, and I like how the author takes that from the personal changes with the individual character, and up through the different parties in the conflict, and it just ties so much of it together.
As with the Ranger of Marzanna, there were some places where the writing didn’t quite live up to what Skovron was doing with the world and characters, and the pacing again throws off the ending a little, although ultimately it was a satisfying ending. Yet, it certainly does not detract from the progression of the plot, and those stronger aspects, and I loved this book despite those flaws.
The Queen of Izmoroz more than lived up to my hopes, and I really do love this series (and its covers) and I will eagerly be waiting for the next instalment.
The Queen of Izmoroz is a book of growth. We get to see more of the fabulous world that had started to be established in the first book, and expands on that exponentially, both in geographical terms with opening up regions that had previously just been names of the page and letting us see more of the Empire and how it relates to its various parts, but also in terms of the culture. Mythology has always played a central role in this series – and the ending of the first book highlighted that, but before there were lots of hints and glimpses, but it was limited in scope. In this book Skovron delves deeper into the mythology and shows us more tantalising glimpses of the goddesses that give the series its name – while still maintaining that mystery and sense of increasing stakes and tension, drawing us towards the next book in the series. (I want to know more, but I also want to see what he is going to do with it). With this also comes more variety and deeper diving into the various religious pantheons, beliefs and related magical practices between the different cultures and nations, and the diversity and division that brings – so the world feels as though it has grown exponentially here and I honestly love how Skovron has brought it on.
There is also character growth, both in terms of experience and skills as many of the characters we followed in the first book, especially Sonya and Sebastian were still learning, and finding their feet in the roles they had found themselves in – and while there was a lot of growth there, their development feels a lot more impactful in the Queen of Izmoroz. This is largely because the confidence (often over-confidence – looking at Sonya) and almost naïve natures of the characters have been shattered. It creates an interesting situation where the characters almost feel as though they have shrunk in on themselves, no longer shouting for the world to see them and applaud them – reeling from the consequences of their choices, and their experiences from the Ranger of Marzanna – on both sides of the conflict.
Yet, within this almost ‘retreat’ we see some of the most impactful growth, and Skovron is skilful in his deflation of everything these characters thought they were (again highlighting that naïvety, and almost childlike innocence – because they were young), and turning it into very real and believable experience, and it really brings the characters to life and it is wonderful to see them coming into their own – not cleanly, but messily and in shades of grey and so very human. It’s great to see the consequences of what happened in the first book playing out so vividly on the page, and for it to have such a real impact, and I like how the author takes that from the personal changes with the individual character, and up through the different parties in the conflict, and it just ties so much of it together.
As with the Ranger of Marzanna, there were some places where the writing didn’t quite live up to what Skovron was doing with the world and characters, and the pacing again throws off the ending a little, although ultimately it was a satisfying ending. Yet, it certainly does not detract from the progression of the plot, and those stronger aspects, and I loved this book despite those flaws.
The Queen of Izmoroz more than lived up to my hopes, and I really do love this series (and its covers) and I will eagerly be waiting for the next instalment.
October 24, 2022
3 1/2 Stars
The Queen of Izmoroz is the second book in Jon Skovron epic fantasy series, The Goddess of War. While it was better, it still was lacking in drawing me into the story. The characters are, for the most part, the same. I saw little growth in their arcs, and once again with the characters falling flat, I unfortunately didn’t care for the book. It is rated a half star higher because of Galina’s character. She was the only one who I felt changed and became a little more interesting and had more depth. Sebastian and Sonya did not really change, even though the events of the story did. It did make for an interesting story that Sebastian and Sonya are on opposite sides in this war.
At the end of The Ranger of Marzana, we know that the Imperial Army, including Sebastian and Irina, have fled Izmoroz. Sonya, having convinced the northern tribe to fight for them, drove out the Imperial Army. Unfortunately, they will not leave. Sonya, once hailed as a hero, faces the wrath of the people, and she leaves with Jorge and heads to Raiz. This leaves an opening for Galina to step in to deal with the problem. It is Galina’s growth from Sebastion’s fiancé to the force that is trying freeing Izmoroz, that was the most interesting to see. She is smart, cunning, and will do what is necessary to save her people.
We saw Sebastian use his magic to level a town in Izmoroz which and horrified Sonya. It killed many innocent people, alienated Sonya, and haunts Sebastian. He vows to use his magic only for good and to help. Once again, I just never felt, other than a few times, that Sebastian was an all-powerful sorcerer. Both Sebastian and Sonya never moved forward in their character growth. Jorge and Blaine are both in this book, and I still find them very engaging characters.
There were elements that did work very well in The Queen of Izmoroz. There was some exciting court intrigue in the capital of the Imperial Empire, where Sebastion and Irina are staying at the palace. The main antagonist, Franko Vittorio, who was Sebastian’s superior officer, becomes quite an interesting character. Some of what happened with him were a little too strange, but overall, his character mixed with the political situation did make for some good reading. Irina is a savvy, smart woman who navigated the politics quite well. This is the time her character was at its best, though she still does not show much emotion.
Sonya’s travels with Jorge to his city with Raiz was also very good. Raiz is the opposite of Izmoroz, which is cold and, for Jorge, miserable weather. Raiz is warm, sunny, and colorful. It is an artsy city, where there is some magic in the art. I thought that was unique and was woven well into the narrative of the story of Sonya and Jorge in Raiz.
Overall, The Queen of Izmoroz was a better entry into the series. However, I still didn’t connect with the story or the characters. I know there are readers who will love it if you enjoyed The Ranger of Marzana.
The Queen of Izmoroz is the second book in Jon Skovron epic fantasy series, The Goddess of War. While it was better, it still was lacking in drawing me into the story. The characters are, for the most part, the same. I saw little growth in their arcs, and once again with the characters falling flat, I unfortunately didn’t care for the book. It is rated a half star higher because of Galina’s character. She was the only one who I felt changed and became a little more interesting and had more depth. Sebastian and Sonya did not really change, even though the events of the story did. It did make for an interesting story that Sebastian and Sonya are on opposite sides in this war.
At the end of The Ranger of Marzana, we know that the Imperial Army, including Sebastian and Irina, have fled Izmoroz. Sonya, having convinced the northern tribe to fight for them, drove out the Imperial Army. Unfortunately, they will not leave. Sonya, once hailed as a hero, faces the wrath of the people, and she leaves with Jorge and heads to Raiz. This leaves an opening for Galina to step in to deal with the problem. It is Galina’s growth from Sebastion’s fiancé to the force that is trying freeing Izmoroz, that was the most interesting to see. She is smart, cunning, and will do what is necessary to save her people.
We saw Sebastian use his magic to level a town in Izmoroz which and horrified Sonya. It killed many innocent people, alienated Sonya, and haunts Sebastian. He vows to use his magic only for good and to help. Once again, I just never felt, other than a few times, that Sebastian was an all-powerful sorcerer. Both Sebastian and Sonya never moved forward in their character growth. Jorge and Blaine are both in this book, and I still find them very engaging characters.
There were elements that did work very well in The Queen of Izmoroz. There was some exciting court intrigue in the capital of the Imperial Empire, where Sebastion and Irina are staying at the palace. The main antagonist, Franko Vittorio, who was Sebastian’s superior officer, becomes quite an interesting character. Some of what happened with him were a little too strange, but overall, his character mixed with the political situation did make for some good reading. Irina is a savvy, smart woman who navigated the politics quite well. This is the time her character was at its best, though she still does not show much emotion.
Sonya’s travels with Jorge to his city with Raiz was also very good. Raiz is the opposite of Izmoroz, which is cold and, for Jorge, miserable weather. Raiz is warm, sunny, and colorful. It is an artsy city, where there is some magic in the art. I thought that was unique and was woven well into the narrative of the story of Sonya and Jorge in Raiz.
Overall, The Queen of Izmoroz was a better entry into the series. However, I still didn’t connect with the story or the characters. I know there are readers who will love it if you enjoyed The Ranger of Marzana.
September 3, 2022
While it took a while to find its stride, with a long stretch of travel and dialogue interrupting things just when they started getting interesting, The Queen of Izmoroz ultimately delivered on expectations. Jon Skovron further develops the characters of The Ranger of Marzann, expands upon the setting, and reveals intriguing new depths of the mythology. More importantly, he keeps complex questions of morality at the heart, asking tough questions along the way.
If there were a single word that could sum up The Queen of Izmoroz it would be hesitant. All the hope and confidence of the first book is gone, all the bravery and all the boldness, is undone by betrayal and self-doubt. We knew Sonya and Sebastian were being foolish in the first book, dangerously trusting to the point of gullibility, and here we see the consequences of that. The war has not gone the way either of them hoped, and the allies they thought they'd found are more foes than friends. It's tempting to say "I told you so," but Skovron makes us care too much for it to be that easy, forcing us to confront increasingly steep prices for the magics that drive them along the way.
While the first book was already strongly female-fronted, with Sonya commanding so much of the narrative, it's even more so this time around. Irina, the siblings' mother, has more to do this time around, and I liked the role she came to play. It's Galina, however, who grows the most from book to book, eclipsing her role from the first to become a legitimate player in the game of conquest and rebellion. She's bold and brave and naïve at the same time, putting a political spin on the violence of war.
I had a few small quibbles with the story, not the least of which is people in power who trust those who clearly are threats to their power. They were minor, however, and nothing that holds the story back. I was concerned with where the mythology element might be headed, worried about the literal execution of deus ex machina, but I think Skovron nails the balance between interfering divinity and voyeuristic celestials.
The Queen of Izmoroz twisted and turned a few times before the climax, but where it ended up was entirely satisfying. It leaves a lot of potential open for the third book, a lot of unanswered questions, and I'm genuinely unsure where that will take us - which is a rare joy in the genre.
https://beauty-in-ruins.blogspot.com/...
If there were a single word that could sum up The Queen of Izmoroz it would be hesitant. All the hope and confidence of the first book is gone, all the bravery and all the boldness, is undone by betrayal and self-doubt. We knew Sonya and Sebastian were being foolish in the first book, dangerously trusting to the point of gullibility, and here we see the consequences of that. The war has not gone the way either of them hoped, and the allies they thought they'd found are more foes than friends. It's tempting to say "I told you so," but Skovron makes us care too much for it to be that easy, forcing us to confront increasingly steep prices for the magics that drive them along the way.
While the first book was already strongly female-fronted, with Sonya commanding so much of the narrative, it's even more so this time around. Irina, the siblings' mother, has more to do this time around, and I liked the role she came to play. It's Galina, however, who grows the most from book to book, eclipsing her role from the first to become a legitimate player in the game of conquest and rebellion. She's bold and brave and naïve at the same time, putting a political spin on the violence of war.
I had a few small quibbles with the story, not the least of which is people in power who trust those who clearly are threats to their power. They were minor, however, and nothing that holds the story back. I was concerned with where the mythology element might be headed, worried about the literal execution of deus ex machina, but I think Skovron nails the balance between interfering divinity and voyeuristic celestials.
The Queen of Izmoroz twisted and turned a few times before the climax, but where it ended up was entirely satisfying. It leaves a lot of potential open for the third book, a lot of unanswered questions, and I'm genuinely unsure where that will take us - which is a rare joy in the genre.
https://beauty-in-ruins.blogspot.com/...
May 27, 2022
Where The Ranger of Marzanna felt shaky, ill paced and lackluster, The Queen of Izmoroz really improved and truly found its footing. Such a satisfying sequel!
The pacing/story telling felt more fluid and captivating, The world more detailed and expanded, the stakes higher, and the character development much more compelling, as well as immensely more satisfying. I will say that while the big twist was great, the ending did have a little bit of an anticlimactic feel. But that didn't bother me much seeing as it's clearly building up to the events that will follow in The Wizard of Eventide.
Overall I really enjoyed The Queen of Izmoroz, and was glad to see how it evolved and grew from The Ranger of Marzanna. Where I struggled with getting through the first book, I did not struggle at all with this sequel. I flew through it! I just wish the book would have ended with a bit of a larger BANG, but nonetheless it was still a good ending that has left me itching for the next book.
The Goddess War series is definitely living up to its potential as a high fantasy series, and I can't wait to see where it goes in the future.
The pacing/story telling felt more fluid and captivating, The world more detailed and expanded, the stakes higher, and the character development much more compelling, as well as immensely more satisfying. I will say that while the big twist was great, the ending did have a little bit of an anticlimactic feel. But that didn't bother me much seeing as it's clearly building up to the events that will follow in The Wizard of Eventide.
Overall I really enjoyed The Queen of Izmoroz, and was glad to see how it evolved and grew from The Ranger of Marzanna. Where I struggled with getting through the first book, I did not struggle at all with this sequel. I flew through it! I just wish the book would have ended with a bit of a larger BANG, but nonetheless it was still a good ending that has left me itching for the next book.
The Goddess War series is definitely living up to its potential as a high fantasy series, and I can't wait to see where it goes in the future.
March 2, 2022
I wasn't very impressed with the first book. It had potential as a trilogy or whatever this will be, but it hadn't managed to get me fully invested. Book two however is a totally different beast, its got its voice, we know the major players from the first book and so a lot of the growing pains have come and gone and things are more fleshed out. The characters are thinking more about their actions, morality, able to use their talents back, willing to do whatever or pay whatever price etc. Even Irina is going to have a very interesting role and while I initially liked her and Galina well enough they didn't really do too much the last time (could be wrong its been a year+ since I read the first book), but this time around they're proving to be vital and pivotal characters. I'm really looking forward to the next book.
February 10, 2021
I got a bit ahead on reading on reading the ARCs I had access to so I’m making this a spoiler free review but I really recommend any of this author’s books if you like action in your fantasy with interesting characters!
I’ve been a big fan of this author’s books since reading Hope and Red. They are fast paced and the action keeps them moving and the pages turning! The characters are never perfect people but in his gritty worlds the perfect wouldn’t survive well...
I really wish I had book three of this in hand already. I need to know what happens to everyone!
I’ve been a big fan of this author’s books since reading Hope and Red. They are fast paced and the action keeps them moving and the pages turning! The characters are never perfect people but in his gritty worlds the perfect wouldn’t survive well...
I really wish I had book three of this in hand already. I need to know what happens to everyone!
April 9, 2021
I absolutely loved book one of this series ("The Ranger of Marzanna"), but this has blown me away. The humour is still there, the shocks keep coming, and the characters pop off the page. But what really makes "The Queen of Izmoroz" an outstanding book is the quality of Jon Skovron's writing and his ability to bring characters (and a plot!) to life. Book 3 can't come soon enough.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
September 5, 2022
This definitely suffers from the "Empire Strikes Back" syndrome where it's mostly talking and set up for a (hopefully) incredible finale. I still love all of the characters (except for Sebastian) but Galina and Irina's arcs were more compelling than the others for me. The world of Raiz and the expansion of the existing religious systems were very well done too. I'm very excited for the finale to this fun fantasy trilogy! The twists are very well done and unpredictable so I really have no idea what to expect for the third book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2023
This one sat on my shelf for awhile, I think because one of the main characters Sebastian did some terrible things during the first book and I wasn't sure I wanted to spend any more time in his head. I'm happy to say that Sebastian does a lot of growing up and atoning this book and his sister is no longer a zealot. The conflict and world also widened nicely. I may go straight on to book three.
April 16, 2024
This little trilogy continues to surprise me. It’s written very simply and the characters are sometimes a little too polite for the situations they’re in, but the magic is fascinating and I am really enjoying the world.
I will never not be able to read Raizians as anything other than raisins though.
Surprisingly eager to read the final installment of this series!
I will never not be able to read Raizians as anything other than raisins though.
Surprisingly eager to read the final installment of this series!
March 28, 2025
3.5☆
Se os pov's fossem todos da Sonya, era 5 estrelas
Se os pov's fossem todos da Sonya, era 5 estrelas
May 9, 2025
i got bored in the middle, but nearly the end of the chapter it gets exciting ..
August 15, 2022
This is the second installment in the Goddess War series, so I am not going to spoil you, because I really feel that if you enjoy epic fantasy, you should give this series a chance. I do not think this series gets enough love, I don’t think I have seen anyone else really talking about it.
This is a multiple POV story, I enjoyed getting POV’s from all over the continent, so you are seeing everything that is happening as it is happening. This book starts out a little slow, but it picks up. I think the slowness is due to everyone having to travel to their next destination, and that in itself took a bit of time. The travel time is not wasted, the siblings are forced to begin considering that they may not know as much as they thought they did. Through their travels, this world expands so much, you get a good look at different cultures and religions, which just adds more layers to this world.
This book keeps the question of morality front and center. Sebastian and Sonya are now seeing what their naïveté has cost them. I think that their growth is the main focus, even though they are on two very different paths (sides of a war) due to their choices, this leads them to question everything that they thought they knew. They both want what is best for their country, I just don’t think they considered anything beyond what they thought was the best solution. In the end, they both want the same thing, but will they ever achieve it?
Their mother Irina takes on her own role outside of just being their mother in the installment. I find it to be an interesting turn of events, however it is a dangerous one.
Galina really steps up her political role in this one. To be honest, I was a little surprised by how far she gets. I am interested to see where her story line goes.
This series has its own mythology and that is explored more in this installment. You even get conversations between the goddesses as they talk about the humans. I think it adds an interesting layer and makes you really think about whether or not we are all just puppets on a string to be toyed with.
This is a multiple POV story, I enjoyed getting POV’s from all over the continent, so you are seeing everything that is happening as it is happening. This book starts out a little slow, but it picks up. I think the slowness is due to everyone having to travel to their next destination, and that in itself took a bit of time. The travel time is not wasted, the siblings are forced to begin considering that they may not know as much as they thought they did. Through their travels, this world expands so much, you get a good look at different cultures and religions, which just adds more layers to this world.
This book keeps the question of morality front and center. Sebastian and Sonya are now seeing what their naïveté has cost them. I think that their growth is the main focus, even though they are on two very different paths (sides of a war) due to their choices, this leads them to question everything that they thought they knew. They both want what is best for their country, I just don’t think they considered anything beyond what they thought was the best solution. In the end, they both want the same thing, but will they ever achieve it?
Their mother Irina takes on her own role outside of just being their mother in the installment. I find it to be an interesting turn of events, however it is a dangerous one.
Galina really steps up her political role in this one. To be honest, I was a little surprised by how far she gets. I am interested to see where her story line goes.
This series has its own mythology and that is explored more in this installment. You even get conversations between the goddesses as they talk about the humans. I think it adds an interesting layer and makes you really think about whether or not we are all just puppets on a string to be toyed with.
August 3, 2021
Interesting In the first book Sonya was often annoying and abrasive. Now she has become sympathetic and positive. Very strange stories, but good One more to go.
March 28, 2024
The young generation had to stand up and fight for their own future, and I loved it. Sonya grew into such a strong FMC who really handed the nobility their own asses and I stan.
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