Format: Hardcover, 400 pages
Release Date: September 25, 2018
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy
The second book in Kristen Ciccarelli’s lush Iskari series.
Lavish, romantic, and dotted with magic, The Caged Queen is a new story in the world of The Last Namsara—one that fans of the first book will flock to.
Once there were two sisters born with a bond so strong that it forged them together forever. When they were angry, mirrors shattered, and when they were happy, flowers bloomed. It was a magic they cherished—until the day a terrible accident took Essie’s life and trapped her soul in this world.
Dax—the heir to Firgaard’s throne—was responsible for the accident. Roa swore to hate him forever. But eight years later he returned, begging for her help. He was determined to dethrone his cruel father, under whose oppressive reign Roa’s people had suffered. Roa made him a deal: she’d give him the army he needed if he made her queen.
Together with Dax and his sister, Asha, Roa and her people waged war and deposed a tyrant. But now Asha is on the run, hiding from the price on her head. And Roa is an outlander queen, far from home and married to her enemy. Worst of all: Dax’s promises go unfulfilled. Roa’s people continue to suffer.
Then a chance to right every wrong arises—an opportunity for Roa to rid herself of this enemy king and rescue her beloved sister. During the Reliquishing, when the spirits of the dead are said to return, Roa can reclaim her sister for good.
All she has to do is kill the king.
The Caged Queen is the second installment in author Kristen Ciccarelli's Iskari series. Let the record show that this has been called everything from the sequel to The Last Namsura, to a companion novel. This novel focuses on Roa, and what happens after the events of The Last Namsura. I am sure you have heard me say this dozens of times, but I absolutely believe in keeping the series together by reading one book at a time and not skipping over one book, to get to its sequel.
Hopefully, readers will remember who Roa is since she's the outlander who married Dax and helped defeat the former Dragon King sending Asha into exile in the process. Roa has tried to get concessions from Dax and his people to make life better for the outlanders who have suffered for years under the brutal dictatorship of the Dragon King. Roa and Dax are a story upon themselves, that is why the author decided to spend so much time in the past.
Roa was a girl who had a twin sister Essie and they were nearly inseparable. Dax was a young boy, the son of a King, who spent a whole lot of time playing games with the sisters, especially Roa. While the synopsis does say that an accident happens, it really doesn't allow the reader to understand the bitterness, and the angry that Roa felt for the boy she came to like. So, it's curious when, 8 years later, it is Roa who approaches Dax, who is preparing to overthrow his father, to suggest that they marry in order to strengthen their alliance and free her people.
Meanwhile, Dax's sister, Asha, who we met in the first installment, in on the run with a high price on her head. Both Asha and make appearances in this book, but it is more or less tertiary in nature. While I totally understood Roa's anger, and her desire to pay back Dax for her belief in his responsibility, there are other things that happen in the book that really need to be addressed without spoiling them for you. I am not a fan of any type of triangle. So, it kind of brought my rating down from 4 Gizmos.
The story is deep in politics, as Roa must now become the Queen who may change the course of her people's history, or die trying since Dax's people don't trust her motives. Meanwhile, don't overlook Dax. Dax is a curious character who you will be surprised and shocked to learn that he was trained very well by three women in his live; Asha, Safire, and of course, Roa.
One of the most interesting mysteries in this entire book is the white bird that is always by Roa's side and how it got there in the first place. You will have to read the book to find out what it means, and why it is so important. Obviously, the synopsis does lay things out fairly well, but you should still make plans to read this book, especially if you've already read the Last Namsura. Upon reading the last page of this book, I had to ask myself what would a third book actually resolve? Will it dive deeper into the lives of Safire, Asha, and Torwin. Or, will another character be featured? We shall see.
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