Queen of the Conquered
An ambitious and unflinching tale of colonialism, conquest, and revenge, Queen of the Conquered begins a powerful fantasy series set in a Caribbean-inspired world. Named one of TIME’s Top 100 Fantasy Books Of All Time World Fantasy Award for Best Novel, winner
On the islands of Hans Lollik, Sigourney Rose was the only survivor when her family was massacred by the colonizers. When the childless king of the islands declares he will choose his successor from amongst eligible noble families, Sigourney is ready to exact her revenge.But someone is killing off the ruling families to clear a path to the throne. And as the bodies pile up and all eyes regard her with suspicion, Sigourney must find allies among her prey and the murderer among her peers… lest she become the next victim.
King of the Rising
King of the Rising is the searing conclusion to an unflinching and powerful Caribbean-inspired fantasy series about colonialism, resilience, and defiance. A revolution has swept through the islands of Hans Lollik and former slave Loren Jannik has been chosen to lead the survivors in a bid to free the islands forever.But the rebels are running out of food, weapons, and options. And as the Fjern inch closer to reclaiming Hans Lollik with every battle, Loren is faced with a choice that could shift the course of the revolution in their favor — or doom it to failure.
My Take
This was a really tough read. A good one, but tough to get through. It’s all darkness, no real hope or light. Realistic, given the setting. It’s interesting having a main character who’s a mind reader, so we see her not only through her own eyes, but see her through others’ eyes, etc. It will be interesting to see if the next book gets any lighter. Nope, the second book is just as dark as the first, maybe darker. I found Loren (the main character here) more loveable, or at least more relatable, than Sigourney, the main character in the first book. I’m glad I read these two but I really need something more lighthearted right now. Also I don’t know who ever thought owning another human being was okay. Ick.