Most of you know that I previously read and reviewed Queen of Someday by Sherry D. Ficklin last year. And how much I absolutely loved it. When I hopped on Goodreads to see if book two had been released I was thrilled that Sherry herself left the email address to her publishing company so fans of Book One in the Stolen Empire series could ask for an AEC of book two. And email I did! I deliberately waited about a week, a long and agonizing week, until I knew I would have the time it would take to devour Queen of Tomorrow.
Picking up exactly where book one leaves off we have Sophie, the newly named Catherine the Great, still very much loathing her new husband yet completely eager to wear the crown. She is pleasing to look at and has a personality that makes everyone around her eager to bask in her glow. Yet she is absolutely humble and rules her little piece of land justly and with honor. Shortly after the book begins we find Catherine and her husband summoned to the queen's side. Naturally, her husband’s mistress tags along irking both Catherine and the queen herself. Upon arriving Catherine is rushed to the queen's physician due to her having been ill. Although she believes it is simply due to stress and overexertion it is discovered that Sophie is pregnant. Leaving his mistress completely in the lurch, Prince Peter now acts as a doting husband to his "little mother", however Sophie cannot wait to share her wonderful news with the true love of her life.
After an unfortunate accident sends Princess Sophie defending a stone staircase face first and suffering a miscarriage, the queen demands she and Peter try again. Tragically Peter instead develops an illness that threatens everything Sophie has worked so hard for and she is sent back to the Winter Palace to try to produce an heir "by any means necessary".
To accurately review this book I have to first describe the incredible writing style Ms. Ficklin possesses. With each word she draws you in to her oh so believable characters and their development. Sophie is no longer the sweet and innocent girl from book one. Court politics now demand that she become as ruthless as the Empress and even more cunning. It is so easy to see Sophie as she walks through the halls or mingles with guests at parties thrown specifically to enhance her status as future Queen. Without graphic detail Ficklin creates a romance that is tasteful and achingly beautiful proving that you do not need a million sexual adjectives to accurately portray what love is.
I'm eagerly awaiting book three "Queen of Always" when Sherry will bring the story if Catherine the Great to a close and most likely bring me to tears.
*NOTE: I received the book as an ARC from Clean Teen Publishing in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. This book was reviewed by a member of the review staff at Cocktails and Books. The name of the reviewer can be found under the post categories.