Thorn Queen (Dark Swan, #2) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Mar 20, 2010 FlibBityFLooB rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2010, shifters, witty-i-am-not, angels-or-demons, loved-the-audiobook-narration, read-in-2011, urban-fantasy-or-paranormal, fae-or-elves, magic, love-triangle

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 4.5/5 stars. A good deal of this book was Eugenie attempting to lose her despot image amongst the gentry and constituents of her kingdom, whether it was through attending baby showers, finding water, having sex to save the land, or searching for young girls who had disappeared. Why did I feel like Eugenie was channeling Meredith Gentry when she brought about the rain through intimate relations? I was honestly afraid that ivy would come curling out of Kiyo or another magical tree would appear. EE 4.5/5 stars. A good deal of this book was Eugenie attempting to lose her despot image amongst the gentry and constituents of her kingdom, whether it was through attending baby showers, finding water, having sex to save the land, or searching for young girls who had disappeared. Why did I feel like Eugenie was channeling Meredith Gentry when she brought about the rain through intimate relations? I was honestly afraid that ivy would come curling out of Kiyo or another magical tree would appear. EEK!

Speaking of Mother Nature, it’s hard for me to picture my ideal kingdom as a climate to match Tucson, Arizona -- Eugenie is definitely odd in that respect. Even though I personally lived in Phoenix in years past, if I could make a kingdom to match any climate that would definitely not be my ultimate landscape. Eugenie’s kingdom villagers were convinced she had put a blight on the land as a curse. In Eugenie’s own words: “When Aeson had ruled, this land had been green and lush, filled with forests and fertile farmland. Who in their right mind would turn it into a desert?” Great question, Eugenie -- you ninny! Part of her solution to the problem? A placemat. Ummm. Okay.

Yes, yes… I’m being hard on Eugenie. She’s really not that bad. After all, Dorian likes her, so she can’t be that bad *impish grin* Speaking of Dorian, I missed a lot of his humor in this book. I really loved his character in the first book, so I longed for more of his witty, sarcastic, and playful talk. I was so happy when the author forced Eugenie to “negotiate” with Dorian over copper. Shame on Eugenie for not reading all the papers that she signed. Tsk tsk tsk.. Who knows what sort of lascivious things Dorian could have slipped inside that contract. Then again, he said that he hadn’t, so I suppose he didn’t. Too bad. *innocent whistle*

Unlike my undying worship of Dorian, Kiyo continued to annoy me in this book. It’s hard for me to pinpoint what it is about him, but there is something that just rubs me the wrong way. Okay, I can think of one thing: Kiyo comes off in the book as being selfish in bed. Booo!!!! I don’t hate Kiyo for not killing Leith. I am kind of conflicted about that whole section of the book, in truth. I think that I would have preferred the rape to be handled more like Patricia Briggs handled it. I was a bit skeptical of how quick it seemed that Eugenie was able to recover. In fact, that’s the primary reason I’m rating this 4.5 stars instead of a full five. Well, that and I wanted *MORE* Dorian. MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE! :)

Like the last book, there were even more new types of creatures to be found in the author’s world. As an example, there were paisley suit coated “aliens” who look through windows and do chores at night. (Send ‘em over to my house -- it could use a good cleaning!!!! In reality, I think I would prefer to have Yoda in Osh-Kosh-Be-Gosh overalls gourmet cooking *and* deep cleaning.) The voice on the audiobook that did these creatures sounded a bit like the narrator sucked on some helium or lived with the Munchkins in the Wizard of Oz.

A word used in the book that I happen to love: USURPER! And it was used *multiple* times. Wheee!!!! Usurp this. Usurper that. That’s a word you don’t get to hear everyday. :) :) :) ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Sep 25, 2010 is mee... kissa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

oh my god!!!
this was amazing!!!!
five stars easy!!!

i can't believe it took me so damn long to start reading it! since, i'd read the first book, Storm Born, i have to admit that i did like it, but it didn't really make me so anxious to read the next in the series... and of course, once i started i couldn't put it down so i read it in about 5 hours.

i had read all of Mead's books except for this one before today, and they are all amazing, and Thorn Queen is no exception. I got sucked into it straigh oh my god!!!
this was amazing!!!!
five stars easy!!!

i can't believe it took me so damn long to start reading it! since, i'd read the first book, Storm Born, i have to admit that i did like it, but it didn't really make me so anxious to read the next in the series... and of course, once i started i couldn't put it down so i read it in about 5 hours.

i had read all of Mead's books except for this one before today, and they are all amazing, and Thorn Queen is no exception. I got sucked into it straight away. There was none of that whole rambling section in some book sequels where everything that had happened in the previous books is recapped at the beginning, and i was so greatful for that! The story just gets right into it and for me, there were no slow parts, which, in my world, is a miracle.

Eugenie goes through quite a development in this book. She continues to explore her magical abilities, and learns more of her duties as the Thorn Queen, all the while, she's also becoming a leader not quite like any other.
I've never liked Kiyo... never... for me he was just a character i wanted to shove out of the way and make more room for the action.. or some more Dorian.. *dreamy sigh*
i hated how there were so many scenes with Kiyo... but loved all the scenes with Dorian... i have found myself liking 'sexy fey king Dorian' since book one, Kiyo... not so much...
In Thorn Queen most of, catch that, all of the scenes with Kiyo are about the relationship between Eugenie and himself... or sex... sex, sex and.... wait for it... more sex... really... i didn't find those scenes so great at all... Sexy fey king Dorian on the other hand, had some pretty intense moments, don't assume it's about sex, cos it's not, but Mead added a lot of depth into his character in this book. I mean, i saw the potential in him from book one but damn... i love him even more in this one!
i loved the scenes with the baby shower, and the chess, and when they're helping the people, and the end, and other scenes with one thing in common... guess who's in them all?

Iron Queen is a fast-paced, dark, novel, with touches of humour that combine to create an amazing story!

...eagerly anticipating the next in the Dark Swan series: Iron Crowned... hehe... yay! ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Apr 05, 2011 Jackie M rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-in-2011, april-2011

I stayed up way too late reading this one, because I just couldn't put it down. Poor Eugenie just can not get a break. I can understand how hard it would be living in two different worlds and I glad that she has made a solid choice as to what she is going to do about being the Thorn Queen. ...more

Like · see review

Apr 02, 2011 Crystal S rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, fantasy, 2nd-in-series, love-triangle, shifters, fairies-fae, usa-arizona, witches-and-wizards, location-is-fantasy-land, setting-in-multiple-locales

Vast improvement over the first book in the series, which didn't impress me that much. Only knowing that I liked other Richelle Mead books made me continue with this series (that and I bought a bundle of the first 3 books for my kindle). Overall, a great book. ...more

Like · see review