The Caged Queen (Iskari #2)

Caged Queen follows Roa, who is now the outlander queen and wife to Dax (Asha’s brother). Roa is queen to a newly liberated kingdom who struggles between loving her childhood nation and learning to embrace her new kingdom. During all of this, we learn that Roa, married a man she hates and blames for the death of her sister, Essie. Essie’s soul is in the owl that Roa keeps as a pet who helps her understand her new role both as a queen and as a partner for Dax. The story between Roa and Dax is heart breaking during certain parts especially after reading their past and how lack of understanding led them to where they are. Both want the same thing but take different routes to get there. Routes that pits them against each other. I wasn’t looking forward to reading about Roa since her story didn’t call out to me in book 1 but I was so wrong. I devoured this book in a day because I NEEDED to know what was going to happen. The love stories between Roa and her new kingdom, Roa and Dax, and finally Roa and Essie are amazing for very different reasons. Ultimately, the story of Roa learning how to trust and how to let go rather than hold on tight to the past made this book a favorite for me.

(4.5)
This is a great follow up book to The Last Namsara. If you haven’t read that one yet, you should just stop here and go read that first since this one follows characters from that one and it would make this book that much better to have them read in order.
In this book you are following the story of Roa and Dax who have recently become married for what appear to be reasons other than love. Roa has lost a sister that she was very close to but her sisters soul never went where it should so it’s been hanging out with her in her ‘pet’ bird. Now anything other than that would be a spoiler and although I made that sound a bit silly it is anything but. The myth behind all that is happening with her sister is incredible. It’s so well thought out and planned! This story is a front runner to the book but there are also side stories sort of simmering along the edges that build as it progresses. It’s well written and is both a character driven and also plot driven book. If you liked the first one there is little doubt that you will like this one as well. It’s very good.

“Real love is the strongest kind of steel. Its blade that can be melted down, its form changed with every bang of the hammer, but to break it is a task no one is capable of. Not even Death.” The Caged Queen

Oh my goodness, ya’ll. ALL THE FEELS! I fell in love with the concept of The Last Namsara and, let’s be honest, those gorgeous covers. But once I really began to dive into this rich, enthralling story, I couldn’t stop reading.

The tale begins with a haunting retelling of the legend of the Iskari, and a young woman hunting dragons by luring them in with the ancient, forbidden tales they just can’t resist.

In The Last Namsara, Kristen weaves a compelling story and rich, unique world-building with a lyrical style of prose that just makes my writer heart so happy.

So, I was excited to dive into The Caged Queen, Book 2, which continues the tale from the perspective of two important secondary characters from the first book. Like The Last Namsara, Book 2 smoothly weaves legendary stories from the fascinating culture into the “real-life” narrative of the main characters.

At its heart, The Caged Queen is a love story…not just an unusual love story between a king and his queen from an arranged marriage, but, even more so, of the love of two twin sisters. In a daring departure from book 1, The Caged Queen tells a deep, thoughtful tale of love, joy, loyalty, and loss.

The Last Namsara captured my imagination with its rich concepts and vivid worldbuilding, but the characters of The Caged Queen and their story captured my heart.

I just got finished up reading this book. And just like the first book I gave this a 5 star read. Now you don’t have to read the first book. Because this a companion book. But it does have some of the characters from the first book. But I would recommend that you read the first to understand somethings that are explained in this book. I loved this book so much even I cried at one point. This book is set in the same world has book one. And we follow Roa the new Queen who in book one married Dax. In this book Roa is having a hard time adjusting to her new life as a wife and Queen. She is confused about how Dax will handle being king. And keeping all his promises that he has made to her and her people. We do go back and fourth from Dax and Roa and her twin sister Essie were the three were younger and learn of what happen to Essie. Like the first I highly recommend this book. Great story and beautifully written. I even already preordered the third book. 2019 can’t come any sooner.

Great for fans of EMBER IN THE ASHES, the GRACELING series, and THE QUEEN’S THIEF series. This is a trilogy of companion books, where each book in the series, while chronologically picking up the story from the prior book, focuses on a new character (along with a new romance, including a f/f romance in the final book). This is a rather lovely format in that it there is a satisfying balance of conclusion at the end of each book and continuation of certain threads through the series as a whole. Also, unlike most series, where there is usually that one “weak link, I found all three books to be equally strong. I can’t pick either a favorite or least favorite; I love them all equally.

One of my favorite aspects of Ciccarelli’s writing and storytelling is her incorporation of original lore/mythology. She weaves this storytelling in between chapters along with references to backstory in little slow-reveal snippets throughout each book. While I love her writing throughout the series, this portion is especially lovely and adds a unique depth to her characters and world-building as well as a dark mystery to the entire vibe of the series.

I could not race through these books fast enough, and yet now I’m so sorry for it to be overdefinitely re-read worthy!

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