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Kingdoms of Sand and Sky #2
The Queen Will Betray You
The breathtaking sequel to Sarah Henning's The Princess Will Save You—a brilliantly-executed YA fantasy homage to The Princess Bride
KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE CROWN…
After a thousand years of political stability, the realm of The Sand and Sky is up for grabs. Four kingdoms, four rulers vying for the ultimate prize, sovereignty over the entire continent: A ruthless old king spinning webs, whose schemes encompass generations. A widowed queen whose only credo is all kings must die. A runaway queen whose unexpected return upends everyone’s plans. And a prince-in-waiting determined to wait no more.
Standing against them are a dispossessed princess and her stable boy love with a surprising claim of his own. Their only hope in the face of unspeakable betrayals, enemies hidden in the shadows, and insurmountable odds is the power of true love...
KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE CROWN…
After a thousand years of political stability, the realm of The Sand and Sky is up for grabs. Four kingdoms, four rulers vying for the ultimate prize, sovereignty over the entire continent: A ruthless old king spinning webs, whose schemes encompass generations. A widowed queen whose only credo is all kings must die. A runaway queen whose unexpected return upends everyone’s plans. And a prince-in-waiting determined to wait no more.
Standing against them are a dispossessed princess and her stable boy love with a surprising claim of his own. Their only hope in the face of unspeakable betrayals, enemies hidden in the shadows, and insurmountable odds is the power of true love...
368 pages, Hardcover
First published July 6, 2021
76 people are currently reading
8393 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Henning
23 books1,644 followersSarah Henning is a recovering journalist who has worked for the Palm Beach Post, Kansas City Star and Associated Press, among others. While in South Florida, Sarah lived and worked through five hurricanes, which gave her an extreme respect for the ocean. When not writing, she runs ultramarathons, hits the playground with her two kids and hangs out with her husband Justin, who doubles as her long-suffering IT department. Sarah lives in Lawrence, Kansas, which, despite being extremely far from the beach, happens to be pretty cool.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 362 reviews
April 21, 2021
ah! not me still attracted to luca on the cover. which is honestly the main reason i picked this up. lol.
as with the first book, i still havent read/seen ‘the princess bride,’ so i cant make any comments as to how to this compares as a retelling/inspiration. but coming at this from strictly a YA perspective, this is still pretty good. not out of this world amazing, but definitely an improvement from ‘the princess will save you.’
this has everything you could want from a sequel. the expanded world building allows for the story to become more political and nuance. there is a greater focus on characterisation, which luca totally deserved. and the pacing is fast with a very active plot. its all there, but again its nothing new to the genre, nothing i havent read before.
so if you enjoyed the first book, then you will for sure enjoy this, because its very much the same, but a bit better.
thank you macmillan/tor for the ARC!
↠ 3.5 stars
as with the first book, i still havent read/seen ‘the princess bride,’ so i cant make any comments as to how to this compares as a retelling/inspiration. but coming at this from strictly a YA perspective, this is still pretty good. not out of this world amazing, but definitely an improvement from ‘the princess will save you.’
this has everything you could want from a sequel. the expanded world building allows for the story to become more political and nuance. there is a greater focus on characterisation, which luca totally deserved. and the pacing is fast with a very active plot. its all there, but again its nothing new to the genre, nothing i havent read before.
so if you enjoyed the first book, then you will for sure enjoy this, because its very much the same, but a bit better.
thank you macmillan/tor for the ARC!
↠ 3.5 stars
owned-tbr
July 21, 2020AFTER THE ENDING OF THE FIRST ONE?????
July 6, 2021
~Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Tor Teen for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!~
*This is a spoiler-free review, so you can read it even if you haven’t read the book yet!*
"Survive the battle win the war."
My rating: 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
【Note: As I mentioned in my review of the first book here, I do not know the story of The Princess Bride, and my review is based solely on the book.】
Characters
Princess Amarande:
I really enjoyed reading about Princess Amarande in the first book and I’m happy to say that I enjoyed her character just as much in the sequel. She’s everything I’d want in the main character: fierce, determined, clever, loyal, loving, and brave.
Luca:
Luca had a lot more character change in this book and he had his own role aside from being Amarande’s love interest which I really liked. The book mostly focused on the princess, but Luca had his own story too, which later merged with Amarande’s into one.
Tallifer:
I know that Tallifer was one of the supposed “villains” but I couldn’t help but like him. He didn’t seem that evil, and even if he did he was evil in a clever way, which showcased his abilities. Also, he just seemed like a good companion to travel with because he has so much knowledge but he’s also fun to be with. I loved reading his dialogue because was oftentimes he was either being sarcastic or laughing at a joke of some sort. Another thing I like about him was how complex his character was, since in this book we got to learn a lot more of his perspective.
This book was also filled with strong female characters, including Geneva and Queen Inés who were both very clever, powerful, and bold, but also evil, proving that women have the ability to be evil too. Most of their actions were in the name of destroying the patriarchy which I partly liked because it shows why they had to do all these evil things. They were women and therefore not allowed to rule on their own without marrying, and since they wanted power, they were forced to kill multiple people just to claim the throne that belonged to them in the first place.
Plot
The plot is fast-paced without being confusing and it hooked me from the start. There was never a part in the book where I felt confused or wanted to stop reading.
This book focused less on the romance and traveling side of things and more on the adventure and political side, which I really enjoyed. Each chapter brought the plot forward and it was filled with twists and turns which kept me guessing right up until the end. Just when I thought I knew what would happen a new piece of information was revealed giving the readers more knowledge and carrying the story forward in an unexpected yet perfect way.
World-building
The world-building was full of rich details and it made the world seem very real and intricate. Each of the four kingdoms of Sand and Sky had their own customs and features and stories. We didn’t get to see all of this history and culture but we did get enough for the plot to make sense.
Last Thoughts:
The ending was a bit open as if there was more to come and at first, I was worried that would be the end, but I searched online and I found out there will be a third book called “The King will Kill You”!! If you want to check it out, look at this link!
✨ You can find this review and others on my blog! ✨
*This is a spoiler-free review, so you can read it even if you haven’t read the book yet!*
"Survive the battle win the war."
My rating: 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
【Note: As I mentioned in my review of the first book here, I do not know the story of The Princess Bride, and my review is based solely on the book.】
Characters
Princess Amarande:
I really enjoyed reading about Princess Amarande in the first book and I’m happy to say that I enjoyed her character just as much in the sequel. She’s everything I’d want in the main character: fierce, determined, clever, loyal, loving, and brave.
Luca:
Luca had a lot more character change in this book and he had his own role aside from being Amarande’s love interest which I really liked. The book mostly focused on the princess, but Luca had his own story too, which later merged with Amarande’s into one.
Tallifer:
I know that Tallifer was one of the supposed “villains” but I couldn’t help but like him. He didn’t seem that evil, and even if he did he was evil in a clever way, which showcased his abilities. Also, he just seemed like a good companion to travel with because he has so much knowledge but he’s also fun to be with. I loved reading his dialogue because was oftentimes he was either being sarcastic or laughing at a joke of some sort. Another thing I like about him was how complex his character was, since in this book we got to learn a lot more of his perspective.
This book was also filled with strong female characters, including Geneva and Queen Inés who were both very clever, powerful, and bold, but also evil, proving that women have the ability to be evil too. Most of their actions were in the name of destroying the patriarchy which I partly liked because it shows why they had to do all these evil things. They were women and therefore not allowed to rule on their own without marrying, and since they wanted power, they were forced to kill multiple people just to claim the throne that belonged to them in the first place.
Plot
The plot is fast-paced without being confusing and it hooked me from the start. There was never a part in the book where I felt confused or wanted to stop reading.
This book focused less on the romance and traveling side of things and more on the adventure and political side, which I really enjoyed. Each chapter brought the plot forward and it was filled with twists and turns which kept me guessing right up until the end. Just when I thought I knew what would happen a new piece of information was revealed giving the readers more knowledge and carrying the story forward in an unexpected yet perfect way.
World-building
The world-building was full of rich details and it made the world seem very real and intricate. Each of the four kingdoms of Sand and Sky had their own customs and features and stories. We didn’t get to see all of this history and culture but we did get enough for the plot to make sense.
Last Thoughts:
The ending was a bit open as if there was more to come and at first, I was worried that would be the end, but I searched online and I found out there will be a third book called “The King will Kill You”!! If you want to check it out, look at this link!
✨ You can find this review and others on my blog! ✨
July 10, 2021
DIDN'T SPARK ANY JOY
I think I might be in the minority here, but I just didn't enjoy this. I don't know what it was, but I just couldn't get into it. I just wanted it to be over with. Amarande especially bothered me. She is supposed to be the clever, sharp, battle- and strategy trained daughter of the Warrior King. However, she made numerous rash, stupid and naive decisions that were not in line with her supposed upbringing. Time and time again I facepalmed myself because it was so obvious to me that she just charged into one mistake after another without thinking it through.
So, in line with the Marie Kondo saying - only keep things that spark joy - I will probably be giving up on this series. It has been a bit of a let down all the way through for me. I don't see how it can come back from this.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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Blog Post: 15 Bookworm Problems
I think I might be in the minority here, but I just didn't enjoy this. I don't know what it was, but I just couldn't get into it. I just wanted it to be over with. Amarande especially bothered me. She is supposed to be the clever, sharp, battle- and strategy trained daughter of the Warrior King. However, she made numerous rash, stupid and naive decisions that were not in line with her supposed upbringing. Time and time again I facepalmed myself because it was so obvious to me that she just charged into one mistake after another without thinking it through.
So, in line with the Marie Kondo saying - only keep things that spark joy - I will probably be giving up on this series. It has been a bit of a let down all the way through for me. I don't see how it can come back from this.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Follow me for more book loving content!
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Blog Post: 15 Bookworm Problems
July 21, 2021
Okay, this was such an improvement on the first book. (Which I still enjoyed, just didn't stand out, really.) Still had some problems with this - mainly dialogue related - but it was definitely a solid read with several surprising turns and an epilogue that makes me eager to read the next book.
This one was even more politic focused than book one so if that's not your thing, this may not be for you but I enjoyed this aspect immensely! It was intriguing to see the possible war and desires for the kingdoms from the different perspectives, especially those you don't necessarily agree with.
Also, if you were expecting more The Princess Bride references/parallels in book one, I would recommend picking this one up. Definitely had a good time noticing all the Easter Eggs.
All in all, I'm enjoying this series and I'm already anticipating book three. I mean that last line... I need to know what the heck is going on.
This one was even more politic focused than book one so if that's not your thing, this may not be for you but I enjoyed this aspect immensely! It was intriguing to see the possible war and desires for the kingdoms from the different perspectives, especially those you don't necessarily agree with.
Also, if you were expecting more The Princess Bride references/parallels in book one, I would recommend picking this one up. Definitely had a good time noticing all the Easter Eggs.
All in all, I'm enjoying this series and I'm already anticipating book three. I mean that last line... I need to know what the heck is going on.
May 1, 2021
I just got this and I'm currently freaking out!!
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'm just going to say it - I have been FREAKING out since I got this eARC and I was really excited to dive into this today. Especially after re-reading the previous book. It's safe to say that I'm still in love with all things that revolve around Luca and Ama. Seriously, the princess bride vibes were very strong for me. Heck, I was loving the little game of throne vibes too.
Even though I really liked Luca being the nobody who Ama just happen to fall in love with.. but him being a lost prince or whatever. I still ended up loving the guy either way because this book was just so freaking addicting. Definitely hard to put down.
Besides Luca and Ama, there's Tallifer. Now even though he is a villain and such - well, I still loved him. Yes, some things were a little predictable but the twists and turns definitely kept me hooked. I loved each little joke, banter, and fight. They all gave me joy and now I'm sad that the duology is over. Is it weird that I wanted this book to be even longer?
Don't get me wrong, the epilogue was freaking adorable but I just wanted more. Personally. Mostly because I didn't want the book to end - ever. So happy that I got the chance to dive into this and I look forward to diving into this once again.
August 26, 2021
The queen will betray you is the second installment in the sand and sky trilogy and I'm dying for book three!
So this is hard to discuss what I like about this one because it is a sequel and I don't want to spoil u guys of what happened in the first book. But, we pick up right where we left off in book 1 and it was such a crazy and wild right from page one to the end. I stayed up till 1am finishing this book and it was truly amazing.. I gave it 5 stars.
So this is hard to discuss what I like about this one because it is a sequel and I don't want to spoil u guys of what happened in the first book. But, we pick up right where we left off in book 1 and it was such a crazy and wild right from page one to the end. I stayed up till 1am finishing this book and it was truly amazing.. I gave it 5 stars.
September 8, 2023
It was fast-paced with lots of action. I was wholly engrossed and couldn’t put it down.
I am still a big fan of princess Amarande and Luca, her uncaring mother showing up with a bastard son more than complicate things for her and her kingdom. She is not only afraid for her life but that of Luca’s as well.
She formed new alliances, won several mini victories and landed in a better spot than she was at the end of book one. I did not see the plot twist in the end coming. Now I am intrigued and want to see how it all plays out in book three. 4.5 stars.
I am still a big fan of princess Amarande and Luca, her uncaring mother showing up with a bastard son more than complicate things for her and her kingdom. She is not only afraid for her life but that of Luca’s as well.
She formed new alliances, won several mini victories and landed in a better spot than she was at the end of book one. I did not see the plot twist in the end coming. Now I am intrigued and want to see how it all plays out in book three. 4.5 stars.
Want to read
November 10, 2020this cover made me want to love this series
located-copies-need-to-read
May 25, 2021So, ummm...
I just got approved for this? And I haven't even read the first one? I requested it because a) I thought I would for sure get rejected, and b) I thought that even if there was a chance I would get approved, it would take at least a month.
I've really wanted to read this series, though, so I'm pretty excited!
So, thanks Netgalley? *scrambles to find the first book*
I just got approved for this? And I haven't even read the first one? I requested it because a) I thought I would for sure get rejected, and b) I thought that even if there was a chance I would get approved, it would take at least a month.
I've really wanted to read this series, though, so I'm pretty excited!
So, thanks Netgalley? *scrambles to find the first book*
December 16, 2021
The plot of this duology was really building up, only to have an unsatisfying conclusion. Unfortunately I did not enjoy The Queen Will Betray You as much as the first book, and found it rather lackluster.
NO SPOILERS Review:
Positives:
- The main characters had some really fierce moments that excellently drew readers into the action.
- While I did criticize the overuse of plot twists, some of the surprises were very good at keeping the story going.
- The world building in the novel was done well, and it was easy to comprehend.
Negatives:
- While I do love plot twists, my biggest criticism was that there were too many in this novel, and the author did not stick with one plot line. The plot twists would whiplash readers from one story line to the other. At times it became confusing and frustrating to be bombarded with new information and surprises.
- There is very little insight into what the characters are thinking or feeling. I want to know their thoughts, their reactions, their hurt, but I only felt detached from them.
- The characters spent very little time together, therefore making the romantic connection feel barely existent. The main characters’ love is a driving force in the story, but it was not displayed enough. I wish the characters would have had more time to interact. This made the conclusion feel unsatisfying and left more to be desired.
- The world building was good, but it would have been enhanced by the addition of a map.
Overall, the series was fine but nothing extraordinary.
Kingdoms of Sand and Sky Duology
Overall rating: 2 stars
Thank you NetGalley and the publishing company for this arc!
NO SPOILERS Review:
Positives:
- The main characters had some really fierce moments that excellently drew readers into the action.
- While I did criticize the overuse of plot twists, some of the surprises were very good at keeping the story going.
- The world building in the novel was done well, and it was easy to comprehend.
Negatives:
- While I do love plot twists, my biggest criticism was that there were too many in this novel, and the author did not stick with one plot line. The plot twists would whiplash readers from one story line to the other. At times it became confusing and frustrating to be bombarded with new information and surprises.
- There is very little insight into what the characters are thinking or feeling. I want to know their thoughts, their reactions, their hurt, but I only felt detached from them.
- The characters spent very little time together, therefore making the romantic connection feel barely existent. The main characters’ love is a driving force in the story, but it was not displayed enough. I wish the characters would have had more time to interact. This made the conclusion feel unsatisfying and left more to be desired.
- The world building was good, but it would have been enhanced by the addition of a map.
Overall, the series was fine but nothing extraordinary.
Kingdoms of Sand and Sky Duology
Overall rating: 2 stars
Thank you NetGalley and the publishing company for this arc!
April 20, 2021
This was an enjoyable sequel to one of my favorite 2020 reads. The cast expanded, the stakes rose. I have to admit I didn't connect as well with something in the story this time around...the characters, the writing? I'm not sure. But overall, I'm glad I took the journey with our fiery princess and her cinnamon roll dear Luca.
January 3, 2023
I unfortunately didn’t like this one quite as much as the first book in the series. The main characters of the series were separated in this book, which I feel like is a typical plot device in YA trilogies. The execution of that separation wasn’t great to me. Things felt really repetitive as each character was speculating what the others were doing, but we as the readers know what they’re doing because we get there perspectives. This made it feel like the pacing was off at some points.
There were new characters that came into play with new alliances formed which made things interesting. I liked the little glimpses of romance we got in this book but I wanted more because that’s what I liked so much in The Princess Will Save You. I liked seeing Luca come into his own a bit more in this one.
I still want to see how everything wraps up so I’ll be picking up the next and final book in the trilogy for sure.
There were new characters that came into play with new alliances formed which made things interesting. I liked the little glimpses of romance we got in this book but I wanted more because that’s what I liked so much in The Princess Will Save You. I liked seeing Luca come into his own a bit more in this one.
I still want to see how everything wraps up so I’ll be picking up the next and final book in the trilogy for sure.
August 12, 2023
Hello Book Peeps
I have just finished this book for the second time and the ending was once again a hot mess of crazy but a good hot mess.
I definitely remembered the ending all wrong so while listening to it again, I was mildly shocked. I am glad that I did re read this book otherwise I would have been starting off on the wrong foot altogether.
I have less than 2 days left to get through the finale book so onwards and upwards.
Happy Reading
Jo
P.S. This still deserves the 5 star rating I gave it before. Still a great read and a great improvement from book 1.
---------------
Hey Book Peeps
This last couple of weeks have put me in a crazy slump and so I was unsure if I’d actually be up to reading a heavy political fantasy especially with it being a sequel. Lo and behold not only was this book easy to get into without having to do a re read of Book 1 but it also super engaging and it had some great character development. The plot moved like lightening but I have to say the best part about this book is all the crazy reveals and back stabbing and just general craziness. Check my status updates cause it pretty much explains how crazy things got. It was a ton of fun and I can’t believe I have to wait until August 2 2022 for the next book.
SMH
I can’t wait.
Happy Reading y’all
Jo
I have just finished this book for the second time and the ending was once again a hot mess of crazy but a good hot mess.
I definitely remembered the ending all wrong so while listening to it again, I was mildly shocked. I am glad that I did re read this book otherwise I would have been starting off on the wrong foot altogether.
I have less than 2 days left to get through the finale book so onwards and upwards.
Happy Reading
Jo
P.S. This still deserves the 5 star rating I gave it before. Still a great read and a great improvement from book 1.
---------------
Hey Book Peeps
This last couple of weeks have put me in a crazy slump and so I was unsure if I’d actually be up to reading a heavy political fantasy especially with it being a sequel. Lo and behold not only was this book easy to get into without having to do a re read of Book 1 but it also super engaging and it had some great character development. The plot moved like lightening but I have to say the best part about this book is all the crazy reveals and back stabbing and just general craziness. Check my status updates cause it pretty much explains how crazy things got. It was a ton of fun and I can’t believe I have to wait until August 2 2022 for the next book.
SMH
I can’t wait.
Happy Reading y’all
Jo
July 5, 2021
The Queen Will Betray You is an epic sequel to The Princess Will Save You! The story picks up right where the first book left off, and it is action-packed, riddled with danger, intrigue, treachery, and more. I love that the series pays homage to The Princess Bride while still feeling wholly original. The setting is immersive and detailed – horrific at times and majestically beautiful at others. The characters are dynamic and compelling, and there’s a startling redemption for a character that felt irredeemable.
The story is told from many different perspectives, which gives such a well-rounded view of what is happening in the different kingdoms. Politics, political maneuvering, and complex, power-hungry machinations weave into every aspect of life in this world, and with so many different points of view, we see all of it. The characters are so well-developed and interesting, and I loved learning more about each of their stories. There are so many characters with secrets, and it’s never clear who Ama and Luca should trust. Layers upon layers of manipulation and political maneuvering make for a complicated web of lies, half-truths, and deception, and just when I thought I had everything figured out, Henning threw another twist that changed everything!
Ama is a fantastic protagonist, and I love her journey. As her physical journey intensifies, so does her emotional one. Ama learns so much about her family, and she realizes that she doesn’t know the people she loves as well as she thought she did. Luca is also quite well-developed, and I love that we see him learning more about his family and past, as well as his future as a leader. He seems more self-assured and confident, yet his core values and morals remain unchanged. New alliances and old are tested, and Luca and Ama both show strength, loyalty, and determination to do what is right for their people.
Ama and her allies are fighting against the patriarchal laws of society in hopes of a more equal future. In this male-dominated society, different women use different means to rise up in a world that wants to keep them submissive. And Amarantha is not the only woman who wants the laws to change. Other women want to rule on their own too. However, the ways they go about reaching their shared goal are vastly different. I like that the story shows both good and bad women and all the women in between.
The story also examines the lengths people go to gain and keep control and the different ways that people choose to rule and how these decisions intrinsically affect their entire world. There’s so much action and suspense. It’s violent and graphic, at times, and some scenes are shocking in their brutality. But these scenes also show the imperativeness of demanding change.
Taillefer is a masterfully complex character, and his arc is fascinating. He is evil and manipulative, disturbing in his willingness and eagerness to hurt others. Yet, there’s something about Taillefer. I’m not sure if it’s his candidness, his innate ability to get to the heart of a matter, his arrogant humor, or his redemptive actions, but he went from being one of my least favorite to my favorite character. I feel like the more I learned about him, his family, his past, and his intention, the more he became less villainous. Of course, many of his actions are unforgiveable, but Henning’s skillful characterization of Taillefer creates a well-rounded, complex, and redeemable person.
Ama’s father, though dead, is another strong presence in the story. Flashbacks from several characters, as well as recollections of advice given and cryptic messages left behind, create a dynamic character who has left a strong imprint on the land and people he loved. I found it fascinating that Ama’s father was so well-developed and complex even though he wasn’t a physical presence in the story. Even after his death, his life impacted so many, especially Ama and Luca
Ultimately, this is a love story, and Ama and Luca’s love story is sweet and true and reminiscent of Wesley and Buttercup in The Princess Bride. Their devotion to each other is wonderful, and the story left enough wiggle room at the end that i could see a potential follow-up book. Other budding romances are interesting as well, and I’m eager to see these new relationships grow.
The Queen Will Betray You is an immersive, well-paced story, and I loved the characters, plot, world-building, and themes. There are many unexpected twists and turns, and I like that the story kept me guessing. There are also many morally grey people, situations, and actions throughout the book, which creates blurry lines between right and wrong and is so intriguing! I highly recommend this series to readers who like YA fantasy and romance and am so thankful to Sarah Henning, the publisher, and Terminal Tours for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
The story is told from many different perspectives, which gives such a well-rounded view of what is happening in the different kingdoms. Politics, political maneuvering, and complex, power-hungry machinations weave into every aspect of life in this world, and with so many different points of view, we see all of it. The characters are so well-developed and interesting, and I loved learning more about each of their stories. There are so many characters with secrets, and it’s never clear who Ama and Luca should trust. Layers upon layers of manipulation and political maneuvering make for a complicated web of lies, half-truths, and deception, and just when I thought I had everything figured out, Henning threw another twist that changed everything!
Ama is a fantastic protagonist, and I love her journey. As her physical journey intensifies, so does her emotional one. Ama learns so much about her family, and she realizes that she doesn’t know the people she loves as well as she thought she did. Luca is also quite well-developed, and I love that we see him learning more about his family and past, as well as his future as a leader. He seems more self-assured and confident, yet his core values and morals remain unchanged. New alliances and old are tested, and Luca and Ama both show strength, loyalty, and determination to do what is right for their people.
Ama and her allies are fighting against the patriarchal laws of society in hopes of a more equal future. In this male-dominated society, different women use different means to rise up in a world that wants to keep them submissive. And Amarantha is not the only woman who wants the laws to change. Other women want to rule on their own too. However, the ways they go about reaching their shared goal are vastly different. I like that the story shows both good and bad women and all the women in between.
The story also examines the lengths people go to gain and keep control and the different ways that people choose to rule and how these decisions intrinsically affect their entire world. There’s so much action and suspense. It’s violent and graphic, at times, and some scenes are shocking in their brutality. But these scenes also show the imperativeness of demanding change.
Taillefer is a masterfully complex character, and his arc is fascinating. He is evil and manipulative, disturbing in his willingness and eagerness to hurt others. Yet, there’s something about Taillefer. I’m not sure if it’s his candidness, his innate ability to get to the heart of a matter, his arrogant humor, or his redemptive actions, but he went from being one of my least favorite to my favorite character. I feel like the more I learned about him, his family, his past, and his intention, the more he became less villainous. Of course, many of his actions are unforgiveable, but Henning’s skillful characterization of Taillefer creates a well-rounded, complex, and redeemable person.
Ama’s father, though dead, is another strong presence in the story. Flashbacks from several characters, as well as recollections of advice given and cryptic messages left behind, create a dynamic character who has left a strong imprint on the land and people he loved. I found it fascinating that Ama’s father was so well-developed and complex even though he wasn’t a physical presence in the story. Even after his death, his life impacted so many, especially Ama and Luca
Ultimately, this is a love story, and Ama and Luca’s love story is sweet and true and reminiscent of Wesley and Buttercup in The Princess Bride. Their devotion to each other is wonderful, and the story left enough wiggle room at the end that i could see a potential follow-up book. Other budding romances are interesting as well, and I’m eager to see these new relationships grow.
The Queen Will Betray You is an immersive, well-paced story, and I loved the characters, plot, world-building, and themes. There are many unexpected twists and turns, and I like that the story kept me guessing. There are also many morally grey people, situations, and actions throughout the book, which creates blurry lines between right and wrong and is so intriguing! I highly recommend this series to readers who like YA fantasy and romance and am so thankful to Sarah Henning, the publisher, and Terminal Tours for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
December 28, 2021
3.75 Stars
July 6, 2021
I enjoyed the first book of the series, and with the ending of the last book, I was eager to read this one! In comparison with the first book, this book still has that adventure, journey vibe, but with a lot more political plotline.
There were quite a few twists and everytime I thought I knew what was going to happen, it was a complete surprise. I did struggle a little bit with the writing style, but it was ultimately an enjoyable read!! I continue to love these characters, especially as we see Luca grow into his new role. There's always the concern of a power imbalance between Princess Amarande and Luca, considering their "status" but I think it's handled really well! I don't read a ton of friends-to-lovers but I'm a complete sucker for this one!
This was a good ending to this duology! I didn't anticipate the ending but I think it's extremely suitable and I would definitely read a novella for some fluff because I adore Luca!
I received an e-arc of this title from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
There were quite a few twists and everytime I thought I knew what was going to happen, it was a complete surprise. I did struggle a little bit with the writing style, but it was ultimately an enjoyable read!! I continue to love these characters, especially as we see Luca grow into his new role. There's always the concern of a power imbalance between Princess Amarande and Luca, considering their "status" but I think it's handled really well! I don't read a ton of friends-to-lovers but I'm a complete sucker for this one!
This was a good ending to this duology! I didn't anticipate the ending but I think it's extremely suitable and I would definitely read a novella for some fluff because I adore Luca!
I received an e-arc of this title from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 7, 2025
This didn't exactly wow me. I care but I don't at the same time. It felt like everything was wrapped up with this so I'm not sure what the third one will be about.
July 6, 2021
This story picks up where the first part ended. I have to confess that although I liked Amarande a lot in the first book, in this one I would have liked her to be a little harder on those who betrayed and hurt her. She continues to be faithful, loyal and protective of those she loves, especially Luca who in this second part has a more important role.
I love that this books aren’t the typical princess who will stay in her palace waiting for things to happen, here, Amarande fights for those she loves and the rights to reign on lands of men. She’s strong and never give up on the majority of the time, and other ones I was expecting different from her.
In this book we will find more political plot and a lot of matriarchy. The female interaction in this book is much more and with strategies and struggle to reign, sometimes at the cost of anything.
I liked the ending, is not what i particularly would chose and it didn't surprise me because before finishing this book I found out that there will be a third one that I imagine will close this story.
I’m already looking forward to read it and see if the author gives the end they deserve to some characters that in this book have gotten off very easy.
However, this book is a very easy read and if you read and liked The Princess will save you , y’all definitely need to read this one.
Thank you so much to the Author, Macmillan-Tor Teen and NetGalley for the ARC. I'm freely giving my honest opinion on this review.
Until the next one :)
I love that this books aren’t the typical princess who will stay in her palace waiting for things to happen, here, Amarande fights for those she loves and the rights to reign on lands of men. She’s strong and never give up on the majority of the time, and other ones I was expecting different from her.
In this book we will find more political plot and a lot of matriarchy. The female interaction in this book is much more and with strategies and struggle to reign, sometimes at the cost of anything.
I liked the ending, is not what i particularly would chose and it didn't surprise me because before finishing this book I found out that there will be a third one that I imagine will close this story.
I’m already looking forward to read it and see if the author gives the end they deserve to some characters that in this book have gotten off very easy.
However, this book is a very easy read and if you read and liked The Princess will save you , y’all definitely need to read this one.
Thank you so much to the Author, Macmillan-Tor Teen and NetGalley for the ARC. I'm freely giving my honest opinion on this review.
Until the next one :)
September 24, 2023
~3.5 stars~
Now with this, things just get more serious and politically intriguing. There's so much female power, queen's clashing their sword together, and Honestly, I’m a bit shocked at how much more I enjoyed this book.
Having Luca actually stand on his own two feet and get this newfound confidence actually made me like his character. Having Amarande actually have to fight and suffer for her crown made me believe that she was actually a warrior princess. Having some insight and backstory into other characters and their motives made them stand out more. The world became clearer and the machinations of various players cleverer and more insidious.
Again, I really didn’t have super high hopes. I wanted to know what happened next, how it all ended, Now the person I thought was the most intriguing in this story, which surprised even me because he’s a villain, is Prince Taillefer. He did some vile things to Luca and obviously he’s in it for his own gains but he had no qualms playing the long game to get his kingdom even if it was against his own mother.
Now, book 3 it is.
Now with this, things just get more serious and politically intriguing. There's so much female power, queen's clashing their sword together, and Honestly, I’m a bit shocked at how much more I enjoyed this book.
Having Luca actually stand on his own two feet and get this newfound confidence actually made me like his character. Having Amarande actually have to fight and suffer for her crown made me believe that she was actually a warrior princess. Having some insight and backstory into other characters and their motives made them stand out more. The world became clearer and the machinations of various players cleverer and more insidious.
Again, I really didn’t have super high hopes. I wanted to know what happened next, how it all ended, Now the person I thought was the most intriguing in this story, which surprised even me because he’s a villain, is Prince Taillefer. He did some vile things to Luca and obviously he’s in it for his own gains but he had no qualms playing the long game to get his kingdom even if it was against his own mother.
Now, book 3 it is.
September 1, 2021
I loved this book even more than the first one! It answers so many questions I had in the first book. This book offers us a wider perspective of the Kingdom of Sand and Sky. There are more scheming, politics, plot twists and badass characters in this book. Even though I felt a lack of relationship development in the first book, I absolutely adored Luca and Amarande. Luca and Ama, my heart!!! I need to take a breath before writing a full review (or a full fledged rant about Luca and Ama). So, its RTC I guess.
P.S.- I thought the cover couldn't get any better than the first book but BAMM!!! This one is even more gorgeous. I-could-just-stare-at-it-all-day, drop-dead, breathtaking gorgeous. Charlie Bowater has done an amazing job (AGAIN!!!) and I just can't wait for the next book's cover.
P.S.- I thought the cover couldn't get any better than the first book but BAMM!!! This one is even more gorgeous. I-could-just-stare-at-it-all-day, drop-dead, breathtaking gorgeous. Charlie Bowater has done an amazing job (AGAIN!!!) and I just can't wait for the next book's cover.
July 24, 2021
Ok, wow. My dear lord. This book was amazing. The Princess Will Save You was good and cute. But this one, oh this one hit my soul all at once and had me from page 1 all the way through the very ending. Ama and Luca were phenomenal in this book. I loved how they went on separate journeys just so they could find their way to each other. All the gray characters and all the villains were incredible and the twists were the cherry on top. I really can’t wait for the next book. YA. 5 stars ⭐️
August 25, 2021
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Potential spoilers for The Princess Will Save You below.
The Queen Will Betray You jumps straight back into the Kingdom of Sand and Sky, right where The Princess Will Save You left off. We see Amarande and Luca coming back to Ardenia with a plan to defeat the Dowager Queen Ines who plans to take over the realm and the disowned prince Taillefer who would do anything for the crown. To complicate things even more, Amarande's mother, "the Runaway Queen" Geneva has reappeared. Her ambitions and loyalties? unknown. Especially with the person she brought back to the castle.
That was where the story really began.
With the stakes higher, we immediately begin on a journey along with Luca and Amarande on a political quest to bring both rulers to their rightful thrones. The book starts off quickly before slowing in pace, even during parts when a lot of things were happening. I wished the pacing was a little bit faster at times however, I must admit with a book like this, so focused on politics, corruption and the manipulation of powers, it probably would've been difficult to do. We needed to see the inner workings of Ines' mind and we needed to see how she would reign dominance over those around her. I loved seeing how those three themes: politics, corruption and manipulation of power worked in this world and I also liked how they were written.
One of my favourite things about this book apart from the way it dealt with those aforementioned themes, were the characters. I already mentioned this in my review of The Princess Will Save You but I think Sarah Henning does a fantastic job at writing characters who all feel so different from one another without making them feel bland or boring to read about. Each of them had their own backstories and their own personalities. My favourite had to be Luca because of his sweet and kind nature and Amarande who was badass and fierce without seeming too annoying or fiesty without reason. The Queen Will Betray You did introduce a new character that I didn't expect (that I think took everyone by surprise with the ending of The Princess Will Save You), Ferdinand. I guess this is another testament to Sarah Henning's writing here, but I genuinely did not know where his loyalties were. Was it to his sister? Was it to his mother? Was it to his real mother? I was left constantly guessing and I was certain he was going to betray one of them. That belief in potential betrayal kept me at the edge of my seat.
My one big criticism with this book (and The Princess Will Save You) was its dialogue and conversation about true love. Everybody seemed to have an opinion about how Luca and Amarande were so in love with each other that they'd do anything (and everything) for each other. Which, yes, was sweet. I cannot deny that, but it did seem a bit over the top at times.
The book left on an open ended ending and I really want to find out what happened to Geneva and to Taillefer even though it was somewhat resolved. I felt like the last times we saw him in this book was a little bit rushed which makes me believes there's more to the story than we believe. I would absolutely love to read the final book in this series. 2022 can't come soon enough!
ACTUAL RATING: 3.45 STARS
Potential spoilers for The Princess Will Save You below.
The Queen Will Betray You jumps straight back into the Kingdom of Sand and Sky, right where The Princess Will Save You left off. We see Amarande and Luca coming back to Ardenia with a plan to defeat the Dowager Queen Ines who plans to take over the realm and the disowned prince Taillefer who would do anything for the crown. To complicate things even more, Amarande's mother, "the Runaway Queen" Geneva has reappeared. Her ambitions and loyalties? unknown. Especially with the person she brought back to the castle.
That was where the story really began.
With the stakes higher, we immediately begin on a journey along with Luca and Amarande on a political quest to bring both rulers to their rightful thrones. The book starts off quickly before slowing in pace, even during parts when a lot of things were happening. I wished the pacing was a little bit faster at times however, I must admit with a book like this, so focused on politics, corruption and the manipulation of powers, it probably would've been difficult to do. We needed to see the inner workings of Ines' mind and we needed to see how she would reign dominance over those around her. I loved seeing how those three themes: politics, corruption and manipulation of power worked in this world and I also liked how they were written.
One of my favourite things about this book apart from the way it dealt with those aforementioned themes, were the characters. I already mentioned this in my review of The Princess Will Save You but I think Sarah Henning does a fantastic job at writing characters who all feel so different from one another without making them feel bland or boring to read about. Each of them had their own backstories and their own personalities. My favourite had to be Luca because of his sweet and kind nature and Amarande who was badass and fierce without seeming too annoying or fiesty without reason. The Queen Will Betray You did introduce a new character that I didn't expect (that I think took everyone by surprise with the ending of The Princess Will Save You), Ferdinand. I guess this is another testament to Sarah Henning's writing here, but I genuinely did not know where his loyalties were. Was it to his sister? Was it to his mother? Was it to his real mother? I was left constantly guessing and I was certain he was going to betray one of them. That belief in potential betrayal kept me at the edge of my seat.
My one big criticism with this book (and The Princess Will Save You) was its dialogue and conversation about true love. Everybody seemed to have an opinion about how Luca and Amarande were so in love with each other that they'd do anything (and everything) for each other. Which, yes, was sweet. I cannot deny that, but it did seem a bit over the top at times.
The book left on an open ended ending and I really want to find out what happened to Geneva and to Taillefer even though it was somewhat resolved. I felt like the last times we saw him in this book was a little bit rushed which makes me believes there's more to the story than we believe. I would absolutely love to read the final book in this series. 2022 can't come soon enough!
ACTUAL RATING: 3.45 STARS
Read
July 10, 2021This was unfortunately a DNF at 67%. I couldn’t focus on the story because it seemed just a little too young for me, and every time I did pick it up to try and get back into it, I would put myself in a reading slump.
I got huge Princess Bride vibes (which is what initially drew me to this book), but I found the love story to be a bit too fast (insta-love) without much substance. Perhaps better for younger readers who are first getting into YA, and want a simpler story!
xx
-Christine
I got huge Princess Bride vibes (which is what initially drew me to this book), but I found the love story to be a bit too fast (insta-love) without much substance. Perhaps better for younger readers who are first getting into YA, and want a simpler story!
xx
-Christine
July 11, 2021
3.5/5 stars
Thank you so much to tor teen for the e-ARC via netgalley!
I really loved book one so I was hoping to love this one, but I just never really got totally interested. I don't know if it was the politics, the characters, or just that I wasn't in the mood for it.
I did really enjoy the separate plots for Amarande and Luca though!
Thank you so much to tor teen for the e-ARC via netgalley!
I really loved book one so I was hoping to love this one, but I just never really got totally interested. I don't know if it was the politics, the characters, or just that I wasn't in the mood for it.
I did really enjoy the separate plots for Amarande and Luca though!
June 22, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙚: YA Fantasy Trilogy (book 2)
𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩: Audiobook
𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙨 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: 3.91
𝙁𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚:
“Even the best of us are willing to lie for those we love.”
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙:
Banter and snark
Unlikely allies
More developed politics, histories, and back stories
Light, sweet, pure romance
Lots of Luca moments!
Morally gray characters
Good audiobook narrator
𝙁𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬:
This is book 2 in the Kingdoms of Sand and Sky trilogy, a Princess Bride inspired retelling that I’m currently obsessed with. I loved book 2 even more than book 1! While the romance is still sweet, the politics become more complex and we learn much more about several of my favorite side characters. I love that Luca and Amarande have to go on their separate journeys instead of depending only on each other. Somehow, one of my LEAST favorite characters from book 1 sort of became one of my favorites by the end of book 2… and I’m not sad about it!
There are so many strong female characters, both as heroes and villains, and I love how defiant and badass they are. I even thought some of the villainous female characters were hard to hate at times because part of me was so happy they were standing up to the generations of men who put them in terrible situations…. but Amarande is still my fave.
There are more action and battle scenes, and it’s so fast paced that it was hard to put down. The ending wrapped up many things very nicely (so satisfying!), but had an epilogue that left me gasping out loud and looking forward to book 3. It’s a little bit like Avengers after the end credits 😂
Once again I absolutely loved the audiobook narration, and highly recommend listening to it if you like audiobooks.
𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙚: YA Fantasy Trilogy (book 2)
𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩: Audiobook
𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙨 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: 3.91
𝙁𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚:
“Even the best of us are willing to lie for those we love.”
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙:
Banter and snark
Unlikely allies
More developed politics, histories, and back stories
Light, sweet, pure romance
Lots of Luca moments!
Morally gray characters
Good audiobook narrator
𝙁𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬:
This is book 2 in the Kingdoms of Sand and Sky trilogy, a Princess Bride inspired retelling that I’m currently obsessed with. I loved book 2 even more than book 1! While the romance is still sweet, the politics become more complex and we learn much more about several of my favorite side characters. I love that Luca and Amarande have to go on their separate journeys instead of depending only on each other. Somehow, one of my LEAST favorite characters from book 1 sort of became one of my favorites by the end of book 2… and I’m not sad about it!
There are so many strong female characters, both as heroes and villains, and I love how defiant and badass they are. I even thought some of the villainous female characters were hard to hate at times because part of me was so happy they were standing up to the generations of men who put them in terrible situations…. but Amarande is still my fave.
There are more action and battle scenes, and it’s so fast paced that it was hard to put down. The ending wrapped up many things very nicely (so satisfying!), but had an epilogue that left me gasping out loud and looking forward to book 3. It’s a little bit like Avengers after the end credits 😂
Once again I absolutely loved the audiobook narration, and highly recommend listening to it if you like audiobooks.
February 5, 2023
This book was crazy! I loved coming back to this world after reading the Princess will Save you so long ago. Amarande and Luca are still the cutest and I love them. The princess bride references are to die for and I love how subtle they are! That ending 😳 I can’t wait to read the next one!
August 30, 2021
I had a lot of hopes that the sequel to The Princess Will Save You would be better but it sadly didn’t have me feeling anything. The connection I had with the main character in book 1 was not there in this, but I still had connection to her love interest Luca. And he was the only thing I enjoyed from this book. There was nothing that got me hooked into the storyline, characters (other than Luca), and the world building didn’t do a lot for me. Overall, I sadly couldn’t find anything in this book that made me invested in the story and main character, so I will not be continuing with this series.
December 6, 2021
Okay, now that was good! This was the book I was expecting to get from the first one, but while I was disappointed by the first, this one absolutely rose to the occasion and met all of my expectations.
Going into this book, I remembered essentially nothing about the first book in this series except for the general plot. As a result, I saw literally none of the plot twists coming at all, and that made for a very fun reading experience. Everything was a complete surprise, and I like surprises. And there sure were a lot of them!
This novel was rife with political intrigue, betrayals, multiple plots, multiple side plots, and complex characters, and I was there for every second of it. It was just a really good book. That's all there is to it. The only parts I was a bit bored for were the chapters from Luca's perspective in the beginning, as they lacked the depth and intrigue that Amarande's did (also they didn't have Taillefer, so... honestly what could you expect?). But his parts definitely got better like halfway through, once stuff started to actually happen.
The character I was most interested in was Taillefer. One of my complaints about the first book was that the characters were so black and white, good and bad. Well in this novel, Taillefer completely changed all that. He was the most interesting character, and you can't change my mind. I'd even go so far as to say that he carried this book on his shoulders. Okay, maybe just part of the way, but still. He kept things interesting the entire time he was there and I loved every second of it. At first, I didn't like him, you know, because I was supposed to hate him after what he did. But I quickly started liking him, maybe quicker than I should have. But I don't care, because he was hilarious. And smart. And did have a heart (albeit buried pretty deeply). At the end, Geneva exposed what was going on with Taillefer's whole rescue operation, but you know what? I choose to believe that the person he was on the journey was not a trick. That he wasn't lying and pretending. I choose to believe that that was the real Taillefer. That despite making it seem to Geneva that he was playing to her tune, he actually allowed his heart to open and to be himself for a change, because when else could he have done so? Maybe I'm making way too many excuses for a guy who may be crazy, but maybe I'm right, and maybe he wasn't as bad as he outwardly seemed.
I also have to say that I was afraid early on in the book that the title of the book was giving away a huge spoiler for the story, because there was only one queen. But. BUT. It got better. I won't spoil how, but the title was not the dead giveaway I thought it was and there was much more to it than I ever suspected.
Okay, side note: how in the world are you supposed to pronounce Otxoa??? Just try saying that out loud!
Finally, I'd like to say that this author said this was a duology. Well with that ending I can tell you right now that it isn't gonna stay a duology! I feel lied to, and what's worse is that
All in all, I went into this book with low-ish expectations and came out with a renewed sense of goodness in the world. Because this book was great!
Going into this book, I remembered essentially nothing about the first book in this series except for the general plot. As a result, I saw literally none of the plot twists coming at all, and that made for a very fun reading experience. Everything was a complete surprise, and I like surprises. And there sure were a lot of them!
This novel was rife with political intrigue, betrayals, multiple plots, multiple side plots, and complex characters, and I was there for every second of it. It was just a really good book. That's all there is to it. The only parts I was a bit bored for were the chapters from Luca's perspective in the beginning, as they lacked the depth and intrigue that Amarande's did (also they didn't have Taillefer, so... honestly what could you expect?). But his parts definitely got better like halfway through, once stuff started to actually happen.
The character I was most interested in was Taillefer. One of my complaints about the first book was that the characters were so black and white, good and bad. Well in this novel, Taillefer completely changed all that. He was the most interesting character, and you can't change my mind. I'd even go so far as to say that he carried this book on his shoulders. Okay, maybe just part of the way, but still. He kept things interesting the entire time he was there and I loved every second of it. At first, I didn't like him, you know, because I was supposed to hate him after what he did. But I quickly started liking him, maybe quicker than I should have. But I don't care, because he was hilarious. And smart. And did have a heart (albeit buried pretty deeply). At the end, Geneva exposed what was going on with Taillefer's whole rescue operation, but you know what? I choose to believe that the person he was on the journey was not a trick. That he wasn't lying and pretending. I choose to believe that that was the real Taillefer. That despite making it seem to Geneva that he was playing to her tune, he actually allowed his heart to open and to be himself for a change, because when else could he have done so? Maybe I'm making way too many excuses for a guy who may be crazy, but maybe I'm right, and maybe he wasn't as bad as he outwardly seemed.
I also have to say that I was afraid early on in the book that the title of the book was giving away a huge spoiler for the story, because there was only one queen. But. BUT. It got better. I won't spoil how, but the title was not the dead giveaway I thought it was and there was much more to it than I ever suspected.
Okay, side note: how in the world are you supposed to pronounce Otxoa??? Just try saying that out loud!
Finally, I'd like to say that this author said this was a duology. Well with that ending I can tell you right now that it isn't gonna stay a duology! I feel lied to, and what's worse is that
All in all, I went into this book with low-ish expectations and came out with a renewed sense of goodness in the world. Because this book was great!
May 9, 2021
I received this ARC thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
"Even the best of us are willing to lie for those we love."
"The worst of us, too."
The Princess Will Save You amazed me with how fluid you can get with both storytelling, fast pacing the plot still keeping all the action interesting and clear. Conclusion to Amarande's story we find here felt a bit different, but still kept the best values. Yet again our heroes are on the journey to fight for their homelands, and people they keep in their hearts. All secrets seem to unravel before their eyes, sometimes leaving only confusion and fear for the future, others letting them understand the past.
"If we survive, I will explain. If I die in the process, please forgive me without my answers. I have made mistakes, but I have always loved you."
Amarande still grieving her father has to face his and her own mistakes, her own blood turning on her and making her way harder than ever. Friend or foe, and many others, especially the motive of two mothers and their twisted tales made me think a lot about Avatar reading this book, and I mean it in a best way possible. If you're a fan of Ursa's episode, you'll love hearing struggles of upbringing a royal offsprings here too. Add Amarande's own voice for justice and independence, and you'll get a perfect realm story mix.
"Princess, your father saw greatness in you every day.""Of all his plans, you were his best one, and I failed you both by thinking I could repair it myself."
I loved the way Amarande&co questioned themselves every step their made on their journey, instead of being prickly proud of their heritage. It made them vulnerable yet powerful, and let me see teen-dream-team of ya in completely new light. We do have to take advice of our superiors, still making our own choices.
"Which is why we must make the first mark."
If you've loved first book, your love will last for second. If you're from the opposite camp, you should still give it a try, as here you can dive into the world of Sand and Sky and question your view on the heir apparents squad.
"Even the best of us are willing to lie for those we love."
"The worst of us, too."
The Princess Will Save You amazed me with how fluid you can get with both storytelling, fast pacing the plot still keeping all the action interesting and clear. Conclusion to Amarande's story we find here felt a bit different, but still kept the best values. Yet again our heroes are on the journey to fight for their homelands, and people they keep in their hearts. All secrets seem to unravel before their eyes, sometimes leaving only confusion and fear for the future, others letting them understand the past.
"If we survive, I will explain. If I die in the process, please forgive me without my answers. I have made mistakes, but I have always loved you."
Amarande still grieving her father has to face his and her own mistakes, her own blood turning on her and making her way harder than ever. Friend or foe, and many others, especially the motive of two mothers and their twisted tales made me think a lot about Avatar reading this book, and I mean it in a best way possible. If you're a fan of Ursa's episode, you'll love hearing struggles of upbringing a royal offsprings here too. Add Amarande's own voice for justice and independence, and you'll get a perfect realm story mix.
"Princess, your father saw greatness in you every day.""Of all his plans, you were his best one, and I failed you both by thinking I could repair it myself."
I loved the way Amarande&co questioned themselves every step their made on their journey, instead of being prickly proud of their heritage. It made them vulnerable yet powerful, and let me see teen-dream-team of ya in completely new light. We do have to take advice of our superiors, still making our own choices.
"Which is why we must make the first mark."
If you've loved first book, your love will last for second. If you're from the opposite camp, you should still give it a try, as here you can dive into the world of Sand and Sky and question your view on the heir apparents squad.
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