Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up-Raisa, an assertive young monarch, is exiled because she's fled a forced marriage to Micah, son of the power-hungry High Wizard. Pretending that she is a noblewoman named Rebecca, she attends a military school under the protection of Amon, a longtime friend, potential love interest, and personal guard. She's also attracted to Han, a wizard academy student and former street lord. This second title in the trilogy (Hyperion, 2010) by Cinda Williams Chima is populated by familiar characters, including Han's friend, Dancer, and Micah's twin, Fiona. It continues exploring the tensions rising over war, politics, and family struggles. Raisa strengthens her knowledge as ruler and her commitment to social justice for her subjects. Now magically adept, Han's affections for Raisa are returned, but a murky force draws him into a dangerous netherworld. Suspenseful plot twists, armed skirmishes, and powerful and inexplicable spells are all in good supply in the novel's many interwoven story strands. With crisp diction and appropriate emotional intensity, Carol Monda's narration boldly brings this fantasy/adventure/romance to full expression. With multifaceted characters full of real teen feelings and a cliff-hanger conclusion, this audiobook will attract a wide range of listeners and is recommended for public, middle, and high school library collections.-Barbara Wysocki, Cora J. Belden Library, Rocky Hill, CT (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
On the run from an arranged marriage and an attempted magical coup, heir-to-the-throne Princess Raisa seeks anonymity and an education at the military academy at Oden's Ford. She is accompanied by bodyguard Amon and his trio of cadets, but although she has loved Amon since childhood, he remains aloof and prickly. Meanwhile, former gang lord Han Allister also travels to Oden's Ford, there to enroll in the wizard's academy, but his life is threatened by blueblood wizards who want him dead. When princess and gang lord find each other again in this sequel to The Demon King (rev. 1/10), sparks fly, romantic and otherwise. Although the legends of Queen Hanalea used to prime narrative effect in the first volume are on hiatus here, the complicated social and political situation among the clans, the Vale, the wizard council, and the monarchy heats up further, introducing higher and higher stakes for the earnest and likable characters. The narrative pace slows with Raisa's and Han's arrivals at their respective institutions, but lovers of a good school story won't mind the slight diversion. Less driven than the first novel, this sequel nonetheless advances the story to a crisis point, where it leaves readers poised in eager anticipation of future installments. anita l. burkam (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
(Fantasy. YA)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
