The Fire Queen (The Hundredth Queen #2)

All in all I’ve been entertained by this series but I will leave a few critiques including spoilers.

1. The first book emphasized that tournaments had been done away with for years and Tarek was unique in reinstating them. Throughout this book we get the Sultan’s political motivations for wanting a marriage of his daughter to Ashwin but his motives for instating a tournament, something that all but a corrupted Tarek had seen as detrimental, as the means to do so is not so clear. There appears to have been the potential for another corrupting influence/object but I never picked up if that was the case. If the Sultan was just a horrible man his own country would have been in likely the same poor state Tarek’s was but that wasn’t the case.

2. The love triangle with Ashwin. It seemed like the author was going out of her way to make people like him. Now, I theorize Kali’s rejection will have consequences in the next book but with what plot I had it seemed unnecessary.

3. I was a bit disappointed in the last fight. Kali we have to assume has battle experience her opponent did not because nothing indicated the princess had actually fought anyone. Kali also has experience fighting with her bhuta powers suppressed. Granted her opponent was a bhuta this time, but Kali should have been able to use her opponent’s arrogance against her and kick ass without burner powers which would only increase her prestige and help to later bridge the gap with her people. After being told it takes hours to bleed the suppression poison out she shouldn’t have been able to do it in moments. I was rooting for a Kali that triumphed without her magic and she should have been able to considering her experience as well as her opponent’s arrogance and inexperience.

There were so many things about THE HUNDREDTH QUEEN that I absolutely loved, but above anything else, I was so enamored with the incredible women depicted in that book. They were such tremendous examples of strength, femininity, and sisterhood. I am so thrilled to say that there are even more incredible female characters in THE FIRE QUEEN, and I am absolutely inspired by each of them in different ways.

One of the things I most enjoyed about this book was getting to see more of the bhuta powers on display. At the heart of this series is a fascinating, elemental-based magic system, and there are some really fantastic scenes in this book where that magic comes into play to create some truly stunning imagery.

It was very apparent that Emily was really enjoying herself while writing this, because despite the dire situations the characters find themselves in, there’s this undercurrent of fun that runs throughout and makes the story a pleasure to read.

The plot in this book is very fast-paced and high-stakes. It perfectly transitions the story from book one into the epic finale I imagine is coming in book three. If you enjoyed the tournament elements of THE HUNDREDTH QUEEN, then you certainly won’t be disappointed with THE FIRE QUEEN.

The romantic tension between Kalinda and Captain Deven Naik continues to simmer throughout this story. We even get to read through Deven’s perspective through some of this novel, which not only sheds more light on the circumstances Kali and Deven find themselves in but also shows us more of Deven’s character and motivations.

Another element of the story that I found highly entertaining was that we get to see more of the empire in this book, as well as individuals from many of its different regions. The setting was beautiful and exuded magic. It also added some really interesting conflicts for the characters to overcome.

So often in second books, we see main characters who become plagued by self doubt when things begin to go awry. And while there are so many different elements in this story that make Kali question her purpose and her goals, she steadfastly believes in her own strength, and I think that was the thing that I loved above all else in this story.

I am so in awe the way that Emily writes female characters. Reading these novels truly is like a lesson in sisterhood, and I cannot wait to read the next book in this beautiful series.

I held off reviewing the Second book till my thoughts on it settled. It was not, in my opinion, up to the high standards you set in the first book – particularly where magical combat is involved. In the opening chapters of the book, the exchange between Burner, Galer, and the like was just a mess. Maybe it was intended that way to express the confusion of combat, but it seemed to me the weakest part of the work every time there was a mass exchange of Bhuta powers. Where the focus was on characters, politics, settings, and even the love story (romance honestly not being my thing), I think the book really shined, particularly for a new author. Unfortunately, the magical combat (as opposed to the physical exchanges) was so weak I could not give this more than a three star rating. I do expect to read the third book on release.

This is the second book in the 100th Queen series and picks up with the storyline near where the first volume ended. There are continuing characters, continuing plot lines, and features of the world that were established in the first book, so you do need to have read the first book or much of this story will be confusing to you. Kalinda remains an interesting heroine. She and her small band of allies have fled the home kingdom after murdering the rajah. They travel to a neighboring kingdom to give support to the crown prince who is lobbying for military support against the outlaw bands chasing them. Once again, Kalinda is pressured to enter a tournament to secure her position and this time she will be doing battle with other Bhutas. The wrinkle is that while in this kingdom Bhutas may live openly, Fire Bhutas are considered an abomination. The pages turn quickly, there is progress in the saga, and just enough is different to maintain interest. The romance that began in the first book continues with new complications and challenges.

When I started reading the story and characters hooked me straight back in. Deven and Kali spent much of the book apart and although I didn’t enjoy the suggestion that she might develop feelings for someone else I felt it made their relationship stronger and more valid as a result. The development of Kali’s powers represent her own self development and belief, her growth as a person and its great to see this portrayed. I have to admit I was concerned about the “samey” storyline of a tournament, however it fit well with the overall approach. Thoroughly enjoyed the book and can’t wait for the third.

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