Thorn Queen was, as expected, a fully engaging read. It was so full of action, so engaging you never wanted to put it down. But I can't say it was fully enjoyable. People who've read the book would probably know what I'm referring to.

(view spoiler)[Since the start of Storm Born, we were well aware that Eugenie faced real danger when it comes to those denizens who want to get into her pants. But I never thought she'd actually be raped, not when she was so all-powerful, all kickass awesome. I thought that part, when Leith raped her, that was really difficult to get through. It was so.. horrible.. It's like, I would rather it not have happened, it complicated things too much for me, it makes things horrible. I guess I'm being horrible myself, isn't it? It's like those criticisms you hear often. People switching off when bad stuff happens. They don't want to know, they don't want to listen. And so bad stuff just keep on happening.
I'm not sure if Richelle Mead intended it to be those sort of issues that as a writer, she'll 'tackle', as I've seen on some book interviews with authors (not on the same issue nor the same author). But for me, it was just... nasty, I didn't like to read through it. I didn't like that Eugenie was so helpless, I didn't even like thinking about reality. The aftereffects of the rape, well, apart from all that war-starting, I'm also terrified for Eugenie's mental health and physical health. She had been a hermit before-it's so easy to get herself closed off from all others and all affection. It's so worrying. It's so painful.

I hate that Kiyo didn't kill Leith for her, yet I also hate that Kiyo was right in saying killing him would only start a war-a war that would cause already-suffering people to suffer more. It was a lose-lose situation because, like Eugenie put it, what was it for? To defend "my honour", etc. And yet, how could she not have taken revenge? It was such a painful thing to happen to anyone. She should have the right to exact revenge.. And yet, the decision would have such a huge consequence. It's obvious there's no way out of it. And I'm thankful to Dorian (as I'm sure Eugenie is) for breaking apart choices, leaving no options by killing Leith. That was a pivotal moment for the love triangle, it was easy to tell. You talk about protecting, loving, understanding me? Then help me take revenge. If you can't, if you don't, no matter how rational and logical your explanation, it's a sign of how much you love me. That sort of reasoning... I'm sure everyone understood why Eugenie broke up with Kiyo, and went to Dorian. It was such an easy choice-and yet such a hard one. Of course, what I am more worried about is the state of Eugenie's mind. I'm sure Richelle Mead isn't the type of author to introduce such a thing and brush over it, being all like, oh after (insert some pivotal moment), she totally recovered, and became herself, kicking ass, being awesome.

Truth is, you don't ever really recover from rape, I believe, and I also believe Eugenie will kick MORE ass and be MORE awesome because she has all that fire in her now. All the reasoning wouldn't stop her now-not when she's the Storm Queen. And it's so terrifying the way her story seems to be leading. In a moment of an emotional storm, she blurts it out: I'm the Storm Queen. And intentionally, she uses her magic to choke someone. I never really understood why Kiyo was so against her using her magic, developing it. I mean, I get where Roland was coming from. He didn't even know who she was in the Otherworld. But Kiyo? Shouldn't he get that the magic would help her as a queen, even if it would... change her? And should he really be discouraging her from getting a crown? She IS the Thorn Queen whether she likes it or not, and a crown would solidify her status, and authority which would no doubt be helpful. That left me with a lot of questions, especially since in Storm Born, it was mentioned Kiyo also wanted Eugenie for his personal motivations. I think that was why Dorian held so much appeal-he encouraged the use of magic, knowing how Eugenie felt when she used her magic; and he encouraged a crown, knowing it would help with her status, and also he just understood her in a way Kiyo never did. I believe there was a part when they said something like Kiyo only wanted decisions that were peaceful and good, but not easy to do, or something like that. I think that was a perfect summary of the main difference between Kiyo and Dorian.

OKAY. Rant about Kiyo/Dorian and the rape issue is now over. Back to the other topics! (hide spoiler)]

In Thorn Queen, Eugenie is .. for lack of better phrasing and words.. the Thorn Queen. One part I really disliked though, is how she oh, hated every minute of it; putting on gentry clothing was such a chore; she couldn't even spend a night there when it was she who created that land, causing her subjects to suffer. I mean, yes, I get you're not power-hungry (unlike me :P) and you're not excited to be a queen-at all, but you ARE a queen now, so please just act like it, and stop pushing everything to your regent! It was disappointing how all she wanted to do with Kiyo was make love and all. I expected more from her as a queen.. But I guess at the ending of the book, things have changed, especially with Eugenie finally realising she is a QUEEN. (She kinda needed a crown for confirmation, I suppose). That helped mollify me a little, when she finally accepted that, and it was obvious she would do a great job in Iron Crowned. =)

Oh, and about the plot development. All I can say is Richelle Mead spares no one. In the Succubus Blues series, (view spoiler)[she creates a really terrifying and world-altering (I'm exaggerating, but it's close) love triangle with Seth, Georgina and Maddie. And Seth actually chooses Maddie. Like WTH. (hide spoiler)]. And here, well, she doesn't show mercy. And I don't mean just the part when (view spoiler)[Eugenie breaks up with Kiyo for Dorian (hide spoiler)], I mean the part about (view spoiler)[the rape (hide spoiler)] and (view spoiler)[the things Art and Abigail (hide spoiler)] were doing. That was so heartbreaking, but I guess it was necessary to move things forward.

All in all, (crap, I keep typing Iron Queen!!!) Thorn Queen was a FANTASTIC book and I'm sure glad I bought it. I am SO looking forward to getting my hands on Iron Crowned though I'm not sure if I should because

1) I'll stop doing any resemblance of work, and
2) IT'S LIKE, FREAKING, NEXT YEAR TILL THE LAST BOOK COMES OUT!!!

I hate to join the "OH NO, IT'S NEXT YEAR. COME OUT NOW" group. That's always painful; I sympathise. T_T