The Shadow Queen (Ravenspire, #1)

by C.J. Redwine

Review originally posted at Simply Adrift.

When I picked up The Shadow Queen I wasn't sure what to expect because the premise sounded pretty freaking awesome, but I couldn't get through the last series that I read of C.J. Redwine, so I was a bit wary.

The Shadow Queen had a very cool premise, I loved that the princess was in hiding and training herself to beat Queen Irina. Lorelai was a very badass character, she didn't sit idly by while her lands suffered, she trained hard and readied herself for a fight she knew was coming. My favourite scenes were ones where she was fighting or she was in control of the situation, I feel like I never get to read enough scenes where the heroine kicks-ass and doesn't wait for someone else to save her.

I remember reading Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard and wishing the main character would do something, that she would get better and fight back herself. It was incredibly frustrating I never got that moment. When I was reading The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows I was waiting and waiting for Wilhelmina's big moment to come, the moment she revealed herself as who she was; an almighty, powerful queen. But it never came. The moment was weak and embarrassing. I was extremely disappointed and annoyed an opportunity to display Wil's strength just never came. So in The Shadow Queen when there was plenty of ass-kicking, extraordinary and honed skills shown, and it was clear that Lorelai could well and truly look after herself and her Kingdom, I was very happy and satisfied. I kept thinking 'Yes! You've got this, you don't need help from anyone! There's no damsel in distress here.'. Lorelai was one strong willed and determined queen.

Lorelai and her brother Leo's relationship was cute and entertaining. I loved that they were so opposite from each other but that worked well together, they balanced each other out and looked after each other.

Irina was truly one wicked queen, her reasoning's for wanting to be the most powerful queen in all the lands were heartbreaking but I do wish they had extended further than a jilted ex-fiance. I wanted Irina to have stronger reasons and higher stakes, she didn't want to care about anyone so she didn't, all she wanted was more and more power.

Kol was an interesting prince, he was a prince that was never going to be King of his lands - and he didn't really want to be King either. But when his family are unexpectedly killed by the Ogres, his kingdom is left to him, and only he can save his people from the Ogres which terrorize their lands. Funnily enough, I wanted more of Eldr in this story. I wanted to see the Ogres, I wanted to know what these creatures were, how did they find magic? Eldr and Eldr's dragons were constantly mentioned in the story, but The Shadow Queen was mainly set in Ravenspire. I hope this means that we get to see Eldr in the next stories, I want to see more dragons! One thing that confused me was how fast Kol seemed to change, he was a party boy and purposefully caused a lot of trouble one minute, then the next he's acting like the King everyone wants him to be. Kol was a genuinely good guy but he was hiding behind his acts in the hopes his father would finally notice him.

I really enjoyed The Shadow Queen, it was a cute, fun and satisfying read. I loved the premise and how the retelling of Snow White was incorporated into this story. I really hope there's a next book, I want to see what other lands look like in this world, I wonder if all of the stories will be based in Ravenspire or if we'll get to venture out of Ravenspire and see other stories being told.

Overall, The Shadow Queen was a very fun read, I really enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone that likes fantasy and fairytale retellings. This book isn't one to miss!

Always,
Jordon

This review was originally posted on Simply Adrift