Queen of the unwanted

Jenna Glass

Book - 2020

"In this feminist fantasy series, the ability to do magic has given women control over their own bodies. But as the patriarchy starts to fall, they must now learn to rule as women, not men. Alys may be the acknowledged queen of Women's Well--the fledgling colony where women hold equal status with men--but she cares little for politics in the wake of an appalling personal tragedy. It is grief that rules her now. But the world continues to turn. In a distant realm unused to female rulers, Ellin struggles to maintain control. Meanwhile, the king of the island nation of Khalpar recruits an abbess whom he thinks holds the key to reversing the spell that Alys's mother gave her life to create. And back in Women's Well, Alys...9;s own half-brother is determined to bring her to heel. Unless these women can all come together and embrace the true nature of female power, everything they have struggled to achieve may be at risk."--

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Subjects
Genres
Fantasy fiction
Published
New York : Del Rey [2020]
Language
English
Main Author
Jenna Glass (author)
Edition
First edition
Item Description
"A Del Rey Trade Paperback Original".
Physical Description
575 pages : map ; 21 cm
ISBN
9780525618379
Contents unavailable.
Review by Booklist Review

Alternative personal and political viewpoints are unlocked in the second book of Glass' feminist fantasy epic (after The Women's War, 2019). All is not well in the newborn Principality of Women's Well. Sovereign Princess Alysoon is mourning the loss of her daughter, cruelly struck down by her petty stepbrother. Her domain's security is under threat due to difficulties meeting their trade agreements. Her angry teenage son and heir, feeling guilty for not being there to protect his sister, has become dangerously rebellious. Her loyal brother is resisting efforts to further their political stability through an arranged marriage to a cousin of their main ally, the ruler of Rhozinolm. Unfortunately, Aly's staunch supporter Queen Ellin, having eliminated the main threat to her throne, has discovered that some of her councilors are attempting to undermine her authority. The introduction of new characters and further explorations into the unique gender-based system of magic expand the depth of this trilogy, the conclusion of which is due in 2021.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

The door-stopper second installment of Glass's feminist dystopian trilogy (after The Women's War) offers an incisive, if sometimes slogging, exploration of the aftermath of abrupt social change. When the Abbess of Aaltah's spell swept through all of Seven Wells, women gained the power to control their fertility and avenge rapes by rendering men impotent. Three powerful women rulers navigate this new world order: Princess Alysoon of Women's Well, the egalitarian rebel community that springs up around the new well of magic; Queen Ellinsoltah of Rhozinolm, whose authority is challenged by patriarchy at home and abroad; and the notorious and ambitious Mother Mairahsol, newly appointed Abbess of Khalpar, whose ascent is tethered to her promise that she will reverse the "Curse" and restore men to power. Glass's universe is impeccably detailed, but the focus on trade, politics, and marriage may dull the interest of readers hungry for action. This feels more like a stepping stone to the final book than a satisfying story in its own right. Agent: Miriam Kriss, Irene Goodman Literary. (Mar.)

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review

In the aftermath of the spell that the Abbess of Aaltah released, women through all of Seven Wells now hold power over their own bodies, causing the patriarchal society to fracture. All isn't easy, however, when the world suddenly changes. Princess Alysoon of Women's Well is more focused on personal tragedy than on ruling, and issues with other family members crop up. Rhozinolm's Queen Ellinsoltah tries to navigate the challenges to her reign, including facing a political marriage that could put her throne--and heart--in jeopardy. In Khalpar, a new abbess, Mother Mairahsol, steps into power with the promise that she can reverse the "Curse" and let men retake authority. Focusing on trade and politics, Glass's ("The Women's War") second book in the series provides more scenic and character details than action, but further develops this imaginative realm. VERDICT A fantasy world built around a feminist society draws on themes that are front and center in the real world today, with an eye to differing viewpoints. The dynamics, intrigue, and plot twists will keep readers immersed.--Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton

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Review by Kirkus Book Review

In this sequel to The Women's War (2019), Glass continues to explore the question of what happens when women wield power.When last we left our two heroines, Alys and Ellin, both were exploring their power as sovereign rulers, and their journeys continue in this volume. Alys is going to have to overcome a terrible loss if she's going to lead the citizens of Women's Well, a newly founded colony in which men and women are equal. And Ellin must fight to keep her crown in a country not quite ready for a woman to reign supreme. Both women are adjusting to a new reality in their world. After centuries in which men ruled both state and religion, a spell cast by Alys' mother, Brynna, has made it possible for women to decide whether or not they conceive and carry children. Not only does this present a grave challenge to patriarchy, but it also reveals that women's magic might well be as strong as that of men. The writing here is a bit more assured than it was in the first installment of this three-part series. A surfeit of scene-setting detail often slowed the narrative in that book; this one moves at a slightly faster clip. But one aspect of fantasypresent from The Lord of the Rings to the Earthsea trilogy and beyondthat's missing here is a sense of existential drama. Glass spends a lot of time on court intrigue and international alliances and trade agreements and interpersonal relationshipsall of which seem to go on much as they always have. The fact that women are in control of their reproductive destinies and the discovery that women's magic is more powerful than anyone imagined feel like they should be world-changing, butthey just kind of aren't. Of course, there are readers who might argue that traditional sword-and-sorcery epics often fail when it comes to character development and emotional richness, especially with female characters; such readers might appreciate Glass' more intimate, character-driven approach to fantasy. People who enjoyed the first installment in this series should enjoy the second, and people who wanted to like it but got discouraged by the slow pace might want to give Glass another chance.An assured second volume in this feminism-inflected saga. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Chapter One From the moment he'd seen the results of his aptitude testing at the age of thirteen, Jalzarnin Rah-Griffolm had set his sights on one day being named the Lord High Priest of Khalpar, and he had never for a moment doubted his destiny. He had been appointed to the office and joined the royal council at the respectable age of forty-­five, and the king had favored him with several land grants and titles that he had not even thought to hope for. No life was without its setbacks and disappointments, but Jalzarnin knew he'd suffered far fewer than most. He could almost hear his late father railing at him, urging him to be satisfied with what he had. Lord Griffolm had even gone so far as to accuse his son of impiety for his outsized ambition. But though he suspected there had been at least a kernel of truth in his father's accusation--Jalzarnin was admittedly not the most pious man to have held the office of lord high priest--he was not especially inclined to curb that ambition. Which was what brought him here to the anteroom of the king's private study, when a more prudent man--some might even say a wiser man--would keep a safe distance from a monarch who had a distressing habit of replacing members of his royal council with little to no provocation. He paced anxiously, awaiting permission to enter as his father's voice continued to whisper discouragement into his ear. Given that the king was so apt to dismiss members of his royal council, Jalzarnin could never rest secure, unlike the lord high priests who had come before him. If he sat back and enjoyed the privileges of being on the council, he might all too easily find that seat pulled out from under him. There were plenty of other ambitious priests eager for his position. The study door opened, and the king's personal secretary stepped out. "His Majesty will see you now," he said with a sweeping gesture. Jalzarnin took what he hoped was a quiet steadying breath, pushing any doubts deep inside, where the king could not glimpse them. Then he stepped into the study and bowed low, surreptitiously studying the king's countenance for some hint of his current disposition. Jalzarnin wouldn't be so crass as to describe King Khalvin as moody, but one could never tell which days he would be receptive to the opinions of his advisers. And as Jalzarnin had come with the specific intent of overstepping the bounds of his authority, he risked souring his relationship with his liege if he did not tread with extreme care. "I hear you wish to speak to me about the appointment of a new abbess," the king said abruptly, the corners of his mouth tugging down to hint at his displeasure with the topic. Clearly he was not in one of his more receptive moods, and Jalzarnin fought to hide the flutter of apprehension in his belly. He reminded himself that even when he was irritable, King Khalvin was a wise and thoughtful king. Jalzarnin's interference in a matter that should be none of his affair might annoy him, but that annoyance would pass if he realized his lord high priest's suggestion would benefit the kingdom. "Yes, Your Majesty," Jalzarnin said. "Perhaps I am getting forgetful in my old age, but I was under the impression you were my lord high priest, not my trade minister." The sarcasm was far from a good omen; any other of the king's advisers--even his lord chancellor--would have taken the unsubtle hint and found an excuse to retreat. But Jalzarnin had not attained his position by being timid. "Ordinarily, I wouldn't think to interfere with the trade minister's decision," Jalzarnin said. The trade minister was the lowest-­ranking member of the royal council, and it was his job to oversee the Abbey of the Unwanted and appoint a replacement when an abbess died. Overseeing the Abbey of the Unwanted was hardly a glamorous responsibility--despite the substantial income the Abbey provided to the Crown's coffers--and it should have been beneath Jalzarnin's notice. "But these are not ordinary times," he continued, "and we men of conscience must do whatever needs to be done." The king's frown deepened into a scowl of displeasure. It had been nearly a year since the Abbess of Aaltah had cast the devastating spell that had cursed the Wellspring and changed the very nature of Rho, the element of life. Everything in the king's neatly ordered world had been turned on its head, all the carefully sculpted rules of society disordered in ways it was still difficult to conceive. There were those who were already beginning to view the current situation as normal. Fixed and unchangeable--and maybe even right. But King Khalvin was not among them. "I don't see what that has to do with which whore is in charge of the Abbey," the king said with a curl of his lip. He was a genuinely devout man, who believed wholeheartedly in the sanctity of marriage vows. The whores of the Abbey were technically supposed to service only unmarried men, but it was an open secret that they would service anyone who had the means to pay. If the Abbey weren't such an integral part of life for the nobility of Khalpar--and if it did not provide such a ready source of income for the Crown's coffers--the king would likely have abolished it altogether. Jalzarnin shifted uncomfortably. The king was in a worse humor than he'd thought. Impatience nearly crackled in his every small gesture, and his index finger was tapping softly on the edge of his desk. Jalzarnin wished he could have presented his proposal at a time of his own choosing, when the king was in a more suggestible frame of mind. But not even members of the royal council could approach the king willy-­nilly. Jalzarnin steadied his nerves by picturing Mairahsol gazing up at him, her eyes full of the calm confidence and strength that had first drawn him to her. She'd been confined to the Abbey since she was nineteen. Her face had been disfigured by an especially violent case of pox--one she claimed was brought on by poison, which Jalzarnin was inclined to believe--and yet she was one of the shrewdest, most intelligent women he'd ever met. He couldn't honestly say he believed she could undo the Curse, but it wasn't out of the realm of possibility. "All my research has led me to believe that we will need women's magic if we are ever to undo the Curse that Aaltah bitch cast," Jalzarnin said. "And our best hope of finding a cure is to put the most magically gifted woman in the Abbey in charge of the effort. Even if she is not someone who would traditionally be considered for the position." The king was singularly unmoved by this assertion. "I still fail to grasp why we are having this conversation. Surely if you feel honor-­bound to stick your nose into the trade minister's business, you should take up the subject with him." Jalzarnin wondered just what had put the king in such a sour mood. He was rarely this unpleasant, even when annoyed. "Of course, Your Majesty," he said with a bow of his head. "I did raise the issue with Lord Prindar, but he was . . . concerned that you would not approve of a break with tradition." To say the trade minister was "concerned" was putting it mildly. Prindar had flatly refused Jalzarnin's suggestion, despite the obvious practical advantages. And Prindar would likely have an apoplexy when he discovered Jalzarnin had gone over his head and brought the matter to the king. "I am a great believer in tradition," the king said, an unmistakable warning in his voice. "And if we can but undo the Curse, our longstanding traditions can be restored and life returned to normal." Jalzarnin was pinning all his hopes on the king's oft-­stated yearning for the old ways. To his delight, there was a thawing of the peevishness in the king's expression as he studied the face of his lord high priest. The crease between his brows eased, and there was a spark of calculation and interest in his eyes. Catching the king's interest was not always desirable, but it was at least preferable to the annoyance he'd radiated previously. "You have someone in mind." It was not phrased as a question, but Jalzarnin answered anyway, fully aware that he was stepping into a trap. "Yes, Your Majesty." Excerpted from Queen of the Unwanted by Jenna Glass All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.