Format: Hardcover, 368 pages
Release Date: March 5, 2024
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult / Dark Fantasy
Return to the opulent world of Elfhame, filled with intrigue, betrayal, and dangerous desires, with this second book of a captivating duology from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black.
An imprisoned prince. A vengeful queen. And a battle that will determine the future of Elfhame.
Prince Oak is paying for his betrayal. Imprisoned in the icy north and bound to the will of a monstrous new queen, he must rely on charm and calculation to survive. With High King Cardan and High Queen Jude willing to use any means necessary to retrieve their stolen heir, Oak will have to decide whether to attempt regaining the trust of the girl he’s always loved or to remain loyal to Elfhame and hand over the means to end her reign—even if it means ending Wren, too.
With a new war looming on the horizon and treachery lurking in every corner, neither Oak’s guile nor his wit will be enough to keep everyone he loves alive. It’s just a question of whom he will doom.
An imprisoned prince. A vengeful queen. And a battle that will determine the future of Elfhame.
Prince Oak is paying for his betrayal. Imprisoned in the icy north and bound to the will of a monstrous new queen, he must rely on charm and calculation to survive. With High King Cardan and High Queen Jude willing to use any means necessary to retrieve their stolen heir, Oak will have to decide whether to attempt regaining the trust of the girl he’s always loved or to remain loyal to Elfhame and hand over the means to end her reign—even if it means ending Wren, too.
With a new war looming on the horizon and treachery lurking in every corner, neither Oak’s guile nor his wit will be enough to keep everyone he loves alive. It’s just a question of whom he will doom.
Holly Black's The Prisoner's Throne is the second and final installment in the author's The Stolen Heir duology. The first book in this series was narrated by Wren. This is narrated by Oak. Prince Oak, who 6 weeks ago was planning a treasonous plot against the High King (Cardan) and Queen (Jude), is now paying for his betrayal of Queen Suren (Wren). Imprisoned in The Ice Needle Citadel, he must rely on charm and calculation to survive.
With High King Cardan and High Queen Jude willing to use any means necessary to retrieve their stolen heir, Oak will have to decide whether to attempt regaining the trust of the girl he’s always loved or to remain loyal to Elfhame and hand over the means to end her reign—even if it means ending Wren, too. Wren, who has since made an alliance with the Troll Kings, has the power of annihilation at her fingertips. She can break curses and tear spells to pieces with barely any effort.
But every time she uses her powers, she loses a part of herself that she can't get back. With a new war looming on the horizon and treachery lurking in every corner, especially by Bogdana, neither Oak’s guile nor his wit will be enough to keep everyone he loves alive. It’s just a question of whom he will doom. It is fair to say that with Cardan and Jude participating in this story, the story was a bit more enjoyable since Oak is a character who seems to hate himself, while Wren is on the cusp of destroying herself because of outside pressure.
Wren isn't the only one with fears and insecurities about being loved. Oak's gancanagh power makes him wonder if anyone truly loves him or if he inadvertently made them do so, even his own family. Oak, he is charming and manipulative, but he also cares about his sisters and family. Wren goes from this scared and easily manipulated girl, desperate to be loved to a terrifying and powerful monster queen, but with no resolution to her major and justifiable trust issues. I don't think I am in the minority when I say that Wren's POV would have gone a long way to understanding what was happening to her thanks to the schemes of others.
Fact: I do not intend to read another book in this world unless I am forced to kicking and screaming. While Black is a really good writer, the need to bring back certain characters, and also add unnecessary plots grated on my last nerve.
No comments:
Post a Comment