Vianne di Rocancheil is a lady waiting at the Court of Arquitaine, where she studies her books, watches for intrigue, and shepherds her foolhardy P...
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reviews
Dec 03, 2011
Katy Book Corner
rated it: 
4.5 stars - Wow! What kind of ending was that?!?! I'm totally stunned. I can't say I didn't have my hesitation, but I had not seen that one coming WHEN it did. I thought I had about 10 more pages to read, but apparently, it was the acknowledgement and the preview for Book 2, which doesn't come out for another six months!
Setting my shock aside, I thought this was a pretty awesome book. I love how the first line had me hooked, and it didn't stop from there. There was action from the star More...
Setting my shock aside, I thought this was a pretty awesome book. I love how the first line had me hooked, and it didn't stop from there. There was action from the star More...
Feb 21, 2012
Jill Heather
rated it: 
I wanted to like it. Vianne was a good heroine -- neither too capable nor too incapable, and though the does he/doesn't he like me storyline was way too long, well, more than about one chapter is too long, and it was much shorter than many other books. The alt-France was fun, though some of the Frenchish vocabulary and spelling were intensely grating (especially the accents). The way magic worked was interesting. It had so much going for it.
And yet. The "shocking twist cliffhanger More...
And yet. The "shocking twist cliffhanger More...
Feb 18, 2012
Whitney
rated it:
My favorite part of this novel is the strength of Vianne, the heroine. She's fearful. She's unsure. She's obstinate. But as the novel progresses, she grows up. There's nothing overly magical about her transformation, and she seems real to me in a way few protagonists of fantasy novel are. Her romantic interest, while engaging and sweet, is not a fix-all, cure-all. Vianne's smart. Occasionally she is frustrating, but if she were perfect, she'd be less real.
While many fantasy novels func More...
While many fantasy novels func More...
Jan 16, 2012
Molly
rated it:
I would give this book 3.5 stars. I enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to the sequal. Two things bothered me about it. The first was that about 100 pages of the book were simply Vianne being sick, but insisting she's not sick and laying in bed oblivious to the fact that Tristan is in love with her, despite his mens attempts to set her straight. ok, I enjoyed the parts where Tristan was obviously in love with her and she misinterprted them, but it just went far too long with her being to sick
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Jan 08, 2012
Tiffany
rated it: 
I enjoyed reading this book. Though it is not as well written and the characters as well developed as I suspect the author is capable of. The book was only 2.99 for my kindle and I thought it worth it. I will be reading the sequel but if it is more the 2.99 I will rent it from the library rather than purchasing it.
What I liked:
1 - The story was pretty fast paced. It kept me engaged for a majority of the story and there was a nice dash of adventure, strength, and romance.
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What I liked:
1 - The story was pretty fast paced. It kept me engaged for a majority of the story and there was a nice dash of adventure, strength, and romance.
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Dec 25, 2011
drey
rated it:
I noticed the cover of The Hedgewitch Queen, then I saw it was by Lilith Saintcrow, who’s one of my favorite authors. So of course I had to pick it up…
drey’s thoughts:
The first in an anticipated duology (The Bandit King is due next June), The Hedgewitch Queen is a fast introduction to an orphan girl who gets involved in events larger than she wishes for, and how she rises to the occasion. Vianne di Rocancheil is a lady-in-waiting at the Court of Arquitaine who spends her days and More...
drey’s thoughts:
The first in an anticipated duology (The Bandit King is due next June), The Hedgewitch Queen is a fast introduction to an orphan girl who gets involved in events larger than she wishes for, and how she rises to the occasion. Vianne di Rocancheil is a lady-in-waiting at the Court of Arquitaine who spends her days and More...
Dec 21, 2011
Haley
rated it:
Review also at my blog: www.passingthepages.blogspot.com
*Spoiler Alert*
Ok...my head feels like it's been slammed with a particularly brutal hammer over and over again, with no breaks and constant taunting about fulfilling good promises and then saying a dainty little, "Never Mind!" and hitting me again.
And apparently I enjoy some good torture now and then.
Duchesse Vianne di Rocanchiel is the unknowing half heir to a king that was just murdere More...
*Spoiler Alert*
Ok...my head feels like it's been slammed with a particularly brutal hammer over and over again, with no breaks and constant taunting about fulfilling good promises and then saying a dainty little, "Never Mind!" and hitting me again.
And apparently I enjoy some good torture now and then.
Duchesse Vianne di Rocanchiel is the unknowing half heir to a king that was just murdere More...
Dec 20, 2011
Anoolka
rated it:
It's not quite what I expected. Though I liked it, over all. There's the language to get used to. And the cliffhanger at the end. The heroine spends a lot of time ill, pale, told to rest or fainting and some of her thought process annoyed me so much in the first half (the denial, over and over, of her being Queen and trying to escape the people who helped her, denial of the possibility of Tristan's feelings for her, and of her being pretty - I hate the 'she's so pretty but she can't see it' thin
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Dec 12, 2011
Felicia
rated it:
OKAY. So I read this author religiously, and was particularly excited about this book, the description was SUPER yummy. I enjoyed the book on several levels, the setting was interesting, a classic fairy tale land. The heroine was a bit wallow-y for my taste but whatever. My primary problem was the following (and please say if you agree with me):
I swear to God, it's so WEIRD how this author's men are so emotionally retarded, and then she treats them SO BADLY. Having read like 15 b More...
I swear to God, it's so WEIRD how this author's men are so emotionally retarded, and then she treats them SO BADLY. Having read like 15 b More...
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Dec 12, 2011
Maggie
rated it: 
At first, I didn't know what to expect of this book, but it all too soon became a book that sucks you in and leaves you hanging!
From court conspiracies to romance to mystery, The Hedgewitch Queen has it all. The best part of this book is that the characters and the setting come from a fictionalized Europe, with different countries. The language that these people use seems like some archaic form of French or blend of modern languages, like m'chri or m'dama. The setting creates a mood More...
From court conspiracies to romance to mystery, The Hedgewitch Queen has it all. The best part of this book is that the characters and the setting come from a fictionalized Europe, with different countries. The language that these people use seems like some archaic form of French or blend of modern languages, like m'chri or m'dama. The setting creates a mood More...
Dec 11, 2011
Lisette
rated it:
I bought this book because I've been aware of Lilith Saintcrow (love the over-the-top name) but have never previously read one of her books (although I think she did a series I was interested in at one point, I just had no money). Anyhow. I bought this book specifically because the publisher ran a sale on the e-book version. I grabbed the first chapter sample, liked it, and bought it. When I say I liked it, I started reading the sample, bought the book, and read it in one setting, to the poin
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Dec 05, 2011
WillowBe
rated it:
Note to readers: DO NOT READ THE EXCERPT FOR the NEXT BOOK at the end of the book!! It will FREAK YOU OUT. It did me.
OK. This is LSC's first foray into ebooksm;I bought this through a special web deal for $2.99. Now I like LSC. I have read all the better known series: Jill Kismet, Dante Valentine and Dru. I loved her novella Selene- Ithink it'sthe best thing she wrote, though more about that inmy review for Defiance.I generally like her short stories.
I applaud her effort More...
OK. This is LSC's first foray into ebooksm;I bought this through a special web deal for $2.99. Now I like LSC. I have read all the better known series: Jill Kismet, Dante Valentine and Dru. I loved her novella Selene- Ithink it'sthe best thing she wrote, though more about that inmy review for Defiance.I generally like her short stories.
I applaud her effort More...
Jan 31, 2012
Ruby Rose
rated it:
at first i'm struggling to read this one because the names are hard to pronounce! what can i do, it's in french-era. but knights and damsels in distress is one of my faves, so I continued reading it.
Vianne, not knowing she's a half-royal, a down to earth maiden, who's only wish is no more deaths bec. of he, shown great bravery and strength when the Aryx chosen her to be it's Queen. Nonetheless, trust has more value on her and her love to Tristan.
Oh Tristan, Tristan! the way y More...
Vianne, not knowing she's a half-royal, a down to earth maiden, who's only wish is no more deaths bec. of he, shown great bravery and strength when the Aryx chosen her to be it's Queen. Nonetheless, trust has more value on her and her love to Tristan.
Oh Tristan, Tristan! the way y More...
Jan 16, 2012
Janelle
rated it:
Okay, really, I want to give it two stars, but I've been reading all the nonsense going on with Julie Halpern freaking out over a bad review, and I'm kind of feeling like taking it easy on YA authors. (No, it doesn't make sense, however, it is making me wonder if I need to go back and bump up the Mythos Academy books another star, so there's that.)
It's easier to start with the flaws in the book. Vianne is tiresome. She is about as useless a heroine as I've ever had the displeasure of More...
It's easier to start with the flaws in the book. Vianne is tiresome. She is about as useless a heroine as I've ever had the displeasure of More...
Dec 16, 2011
Colleen
rated it:
The Hedgewitch Queen is a great fantasy novel where danger and violence reign in the fight to rule a kingdom. Vianne is the level-headed companion to the princess, whose job it is to protect and help her navigate the intrigues of court. All that changes when a distant relation stages a coup d'etat and Vianne barely escapes with her life. As the plot unfolds, it becomes paramount that she determines who to trust, for her life is forfeit if she is wrong. Thus begins The Hedgewitch Queen.
Thi More...
Thi More...
Jan 01, 2012
Karyogini
rated it:
What??? Cliffhanger! Ugh! It really is a 5star but the cliffhanger takes a star away. I can't stand them.
This is a historical fantasy. A much slower pace for Saintcrow, I think. I like it. I'm happy I stumble on this one. My last historical fantasy was that of the Green Rider series which I love and HATE. More if hate... Go read the comments/review of book 4 (I think). You'll understand the hate part. Ugh! I really like the Study Series and this new one. :)
This one is a good More...
This is a historical fantasy. A much slower pace for Saintcrow, I think. I like it. I'm happy I stumble on this one. My last historical fantasy was that of the Green Rider series which I love and HATE. More if hate... Go read the comments/review of book 4 (I think). You'll understand the hate part. Ugh! I really like the Study Series and this new one. :)
This one is a good More...
Dec 06, 2011
Jean
rated it:
Magic and murder, assassins and royal bastards and Suspiciously Familiar Gods, all set in Not-Europe. Steeped in rich language, The Hedgewitch Queen is a traditional fantasy treat. I connected with the characters immediately, and the story quickly built up the momentum that hauled me along when I felt like strangling the characters - they were being reasonable and smart and aaaaaarg! It's the good sort of the need-to-strangle feeling, that comes from the characters being perfectly in character a
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Feb 10, 2012
Jen
rated it:
I had the same issues with it than many of the other reviewers did. I felt like Vianne spent the first half of the book being almost useless. She was sick but protesting being sick the entire escape. Its only when she comes to terms with who she is and who she needs to be do I really start to like her.
There are so many little bright spots and characters that I could write for quite a while and not cover them all. I really enjoyed the queen's guard, especially Ardersahl who becomes my More...
There are so many little bright spots and characters that I could write for quite a while and not cover them all. I really enjoyed the queen's guard, especially Ardersahl who becomes my More...
Dec 15, 2011
Kat
rated it:
i really enjoyed this book. it was very different from what im used to with lilith saintcrow but that just makes it even better. the only thing making this a book i really like instead of a book i love is how frustrated i felt with the characters most of the time...i think. its hard to pin it down actually. i have a feeling that some of the things that frustrated me are going to be more out in the open in the second book & its going to be getting full stars. cant wait for book 2! so many things
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Jan 02, 2012
Julie
rated it:
What an enchanting tale! This is now one of my all time favorite books! Oh man! I don't even know if I can express the extreme greatness of The Hedgewitch Queen! There is magic in every word, Lilith Saintcrow weaves the history in with the tale effortlessly, bringing this book to life. It is told from Vianne's point of view, with little phrases put like she is retelling the story to you personally. The love between Tristain and Vianne is natural, not rushed or forced. The unexpected friendships
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Dec 08, 2011
Jaime
rated it:
From the first sentence, this was a book that grabbed me and pulled me straight in. I love all the characters and Vianne has a great, strong voice. It was a delight to watch her find her footing as she grew into her role and forged new relationships. I was never bored with the plot, which is fast-paced overall, but Saintcrow is the kind of author who could make watching paint dry a fascinating adventure, purely through the strength of her characters. This is the first part of a larger story and
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Jan 17, 2012
Christy
rated it: 
I got this book from the ‘great reads for under $4.99’ deal so I picked it up cheap and wasn’t sure what to expect. I was not a big fan.
The main character was quite annoying though I think we were meant to like her. The ‘could he really find me beautiful’? crap got a little annoying about 1/3 of the way in – the fact that it continued through the WHOLE book was too much.
The 2 or 3 pages of intro to the 2nd book answered all the questions that needed answering from the f More...
The main character was quite annoying though I think we were meant to like her. The ‘could he really find me beautiful’? crap got a little annoying about 1/3 of the way in – the fact that it continued through the WHOLE book was too much.
The 2 or 3 pages of intro to the 2nd book answered all the questions that needed answering from the f More...
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Dec 09, 2011
Cheryl
rated it:
This one is a little harder to review. I loved the story but, I am at a crossroads about how I feel about Vianne. Hedgewitch Queen was pretty well written with wonderful characters, imagery, and language. We only get a cursory glance into each of the main actors in this saga. The story is very focused on the current events beginning with some very serious court intrigue, which is one of my favorite topics.
Vianne is an interesting character but, I'm not sure she is very loyal to anyo More...
Vianne is an interesting character but, I'm not sure she is very loyal to anyo More...
Dec 17, 2011
Kindle-aholic
rated it:
This is a fantasy with some romance, but if you are looking for your typical "follow the rules, guaranteed HEA" well, that's not what you'll get here. To be honest, I don't read Saintcrow's books for a guaranteed anything other than I know she is going to throw a ton at her characters, and I will most likely enjoy it (even though the characters probably won't).
Vianne is very different from Dante or Dru, but that doesn't mean she is "weak." She has survived at cour More...
Vianne is very different from Dante or Dru, but that doesn't mean she is "weak." She has survived at cour More...
Dec 28, 2011
Kara-karina
rated it:
You know I love Lili's writing, right? This year she managed to round up nicely two of her series - Jill Kismet and Strange Angels, so I'm eagerly awaiting what she'll come up with next.
I loved The Hedgewitch Queen for two reasons - it's a fantasy very much akin to Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder - dark enough, brutal enough with a strong female protagonist who presses all the right buttons for me :) Second reason is that despite being fantasy it's not too long, I've read it in few More...
I loved The Hedgewitch Queen for two reasons - it's a fantasy very much akin to Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder - dark enough, brutal enough with a strong female protagonist who presses all the right buttons for me :) Second reason is that despite being fantasy it's not too long, I've read it in few More...
Jan 01, 2012
Heather
rated it:
I really liked this book. I actually wasn't aware it was a YA book until after I had read it. This author is one of my faves and I tried it just because of that. I found it very engaging and the world was really interesting. It did end on a bit of cliffhanger so that was frustrating just because I NEED TO KNOW the ending.
I have seen some people say that it reminded them of Jacqueline Carey's world in the Kusheil books and I admit it reminded me of that as well but I didn't mind I like More...
I have seen some people say that it reminded them of Jacqueline Carey's world in the Kusheil books and I admit it reminded me of that as well but I didn't mind I like More...
Feb 05, 2012
Natalie
rated it:
I feel conflicted about this book, the first two thirds were quite intriguing. It had a slow start, but once the pace picked up, I was addicted. The setting was detailed enough to imply decent world building, the characters had potential. Though they did suffer from cliche' stereotypes, but it didn't really matter since the story was interesting. The author handled suspense pretty well, and I felt the characters' fear and whatnot.
buuut, then the ending was weak.
I know More...
buuut, then the ending was weak.
I know More...
Dec 22, 2011
Jessie
rated it:
Truly an amazing book!
I finished with it and could not believe at how far and deep Vianne became. She is so alone and so brave, actually the perfect ruler. And what we learn (or think we learn) about Tristan?
Let's just say that cliff hanger pissed me off as much as the ones in Chicago Land Vampire series and Fever series did.
The blurb at the end in Tristan's voice already has me moaning that the next book isn't released. Lilith Saintcrow is a must read author.
I finished with it and could not believe at how far and deep Vianne became. She is so alone and so brave, actually the perfect ruler. And what we learn (or think we learn) about Tristan?
Let's just say that cliff hanger pissed me off as much as the ones in Chicago Land Vampire series and Fever series did.
The blurb at the end in Tristan's voice already has me moaning that the next book isn't released. Lilith Saintcrow is a must read author.
Jan 03, 2012
Nafiza
rated it:
I liked this a lot more than I had thought I would. I did have some problems with it but on the whole this was a very solid fantasy from Saintcrow. The worldbuilding was detailed, the pacing was fine - those are just details but what blew me away was what was revealed at the end. Hot damn. I think that alone pushed the second book on my to read list. Simply because I haven't yet seen anything similar to what happened in a book that is meant for more adult YA.
Also, if your father in More...
Also, if your father in More...
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Dec 23, 2011
Cotton
rated it:
I loved this book! Action, court intrigue, romance, and magic are all interwoven together. The book is set in a world where court politics are a deadly game that has to be navigated with care. It was great to watch as Vianne develops from the quiet scholarly court lady to a woman with a back bone. I enjoyed the interplay between Tris and Vianne. I didn't want the book to end. I can’t wait to find out what happens next.
