I want to be a witch in this world | The King Slayer

The King Slayer (The Wich Hunter #2) by Virginia Boecker

Published: June 2nd 2016 by Orchard Books

Genre: young adult, alternate history, fantasy

Goodreads summary: Magic, suspense, and political intrigue collide in this sequel to The Witch Hunter, perfect for fans of Graceling and the Grisha Trilogy.

Former witch hunter Elizabeth Grey is hiding within the magically protected village of Harrow, evading the price put on her head by Lord Blackwell, the usurper king of Anglia. Their last encounter left Blackwell ruined, but his thirst for power grows stronger every day. He's readying for a war against those who would resist his rule--namely Elizabeth and the witches, wizards, pirates, and healers she now calls her friends.

Having lost her stigma, a magical source of protection and healing, Elizabeth's strength is tested both physically and emotionally. War always means sacrifice, and as the lines between good and evil blur once more, Elizabeth must decide just how far she'll go to save those she loves.

In this sequel to The Witch Hunter, Virginia Boecker delivers a powerful story full of action, suspense, camaraderie, and romance.

REVIEW

I loved The Witch Hunter when I read it last year, so of course, I was really excited about its sequel and devoured it when I got my hands on it. I wasn’t disappointed and I would highly recommend you to read this duology.

Elizabeth evolved so much during this book, I was really impressed with her. In the first book, we discovered that there was a reason witch hunters were so badass, but in the second book, Elizabeth is more of a human again. Because of that, she had to work so much to be strong again, I liked to see how strong-willed she was. Moreover, she had to make tough decisions and clearly showed that she didn’t need other people to tell her what to do, or to protect her.

The secondary characters were still great in this one, I really need this novella about Schuyler, you know? There is so much mystery about this past, so I just need it now. I wasn’t expecting to see so much of Malcolm during the story, but it was quite interesting to see, because of the past he had with Elizabeth. Virginia Boecker also introduced new characters I enjoyed and helped picture a bigger part of this world.

The plot was more complex in The King Slayer than in The Witch Hunter, because it was more war-driven and I enjoyed it seeing everyone training, getting on missions and then fighting on the battlefield. However, I have to admit that I struggled a little at the beginning of the novel, because I had a hard time remembering who was who and what was going on. I would advise you to read the books back to back or reread the first one before diving into this one, because the author doesn’t talk that much about what happened before. The pacing of the story was a bit slow at first, but it picked up and I couldn’t stop reading 100 pages into it.

I still wasn’t the biggest fan of the romance at the beginning of the book, even if the characters were cute together, but I liked that the author never made it evolve in a love triangle. Indeed, the main couple had big problems, which prevented them to be together toward the middle of the book, but it actually made sense. It wasn’t a problem of communication for once, which was quite refreshing. I actually warmed up to them during the book, because they went through so much and deserved to be together at the end.

The magic aspect of this duology was explained in depth during The King Slayer, because we ignored so much of it after The Witch Hunter, and it was so interesting. You could definitely see there was so much foreshadowing that led to understand the magic system. Boecker also explored more of the magical world politics and a betrayal quite surprised me. I was deeply in love with the alternate history aspect of the novel, just like in the first one, I liked how similar it was to England but yet, it wasn’t? Moreover, the ending of The King Slayer was pretty epic, heart-breaking at times, and I had enough closure to be satisfied.

Overall, I was satisfied with this conclusion and you should read this duology if you haven’t yet. Those books are some of the best witches/wizards books I’ve read in a while, so if you want to get back to them, do yourself a favour. I’m so excited to read what Virginia Boecker has in store next, because I need more alternate history in my life (I love, love, love it!).

Other:

• Review of The Witch Hunter

Have you read this book yet? Or The Witch Hunter? What did you think of them? What's your favourite historical period?

The idea behind this book is all I've ever wanted | Witch Hunter

Witch Hunter (The Witch Hunter #1) by Virginia Boecker

Published:  September 1st 2015 by Hodder & Stoughton (first published June 2nd by Little Brown Books for Young Readers)
Genre: young adult, fantasy, alternate history

Goodreads summary: The magic and suspense of Graceling meet the political intrigue and unrest of Game of Thrones in this riveting fantasy debut.

Your greatest enemy isn't what you fight, but what you fear.

Elizabeth Grey is one of the king's best witch hunters, devoted to rooting out witchcraft and doling out justice. But when she's accused of being a witch herself, Elizabeth is arrested and sentenced to burn at the stake.

Salvation comes from a man she thought was her enemy. Nicholas Perevil, the most powerful and dangerous wizard in the kingdom, offers her a deal: he will save her from execution if she can break the deadly curse that's been laid upon him.

But Nicholas and his followers know nothing of Elizabeth's witch hunting past--if they find out, the stake will be the least of her worries. And as she's thrust into the magical world of witches, ghosts, pirates, and one all-too-handsome healer, Elizabeth is forced to redefine her ideas of right and wrong, of friends and enemies, and of love and hate.

Virginia Boecker weaves a riveting tale of magic, betrayal, and sacrifice in this unforgettable fantasy debut.

REVIEW

To sum it up, I loved it. I read it in two days when I was in a reading slump and then I got a book hangover. I remember reading mixed reviews about this one, so I was hesitant to pick this up but it was SO. GOOD.

WHY I LOVED THIS BOOK TO THE MOON AND BACK AND WANT THE WORLD TO READ IT

* It's alternate history set in a 16th England. Witches are supposed to be bad and everything and are burnt. Because of that, the world is a dark place and no one is safe. There was a plague started by wizards that killed half the country. Because there are wizards, there is an Inquisition (I've always wanted to write that kind of book so I'm happy)! So of course, there is an underground organization of wizards to fight against all the system (and they're called the Reformists so it's a TRUE alternate history).

* The main character, Elizabeth Grey, is a witch hunter (hence the title). As soon as the first chapter, we got to see her fight the wizards. She's strong and has a hard time trusting people. Because of the time period, even if she lived in the palace, she got through big issues and I liked that (well not really) because it was realistic. We didn't actually see what happened but it was there.

* The plot involves a curse that needs to be broken. It is a fast-paced plot, set in the dark for the most part, it was an enjoyable story to read about. The characters go to parties with supernatural beings.

* I was scared there would be a love triangle, because in the beginning of the novel, there was an overprotective best friend. But because of the choices Elizabeth made, the love triangle didn't exist.

* There is an untrustworthy ghost character! He was so funny and had a relationship with a living character. There are also characters like a seer-child. There are also pirates and the characters travel by ship!

* I didn't see the plot twist coming. It's true that some things were weird but… I hadn't realised. That ending was kick-ass, selfless and a little creepy. Can I have the next book, please?

BUT IT STILL HAD SOME ISSUES

* I wanted a little more world-building. Like more on: why witches, more witch hunter-y scenes, etc.

* When I realized what the romance would be, I was a little disappointed because I didn't buy it? She just fell in love with the guy who saved her life, of course… Still, the author wrote swoony-worthy scenes with these two characters so it was okay.

Overall, I love that kind of books, with witches and alternate history and everything. It's been a while since I read one like that so my heart was pleased. I really enjoyed the main character who was tough and had hard choices to make. I didn't really like the romance, but I'm sure it will be better in the next book. Basically you need to read it and love it! 

Have you read this book? What did you think of it? Have you read books like this one (I'd love some recommendations)?

Fantasy or not fantasy? That's the question. | The Glittering Court

The Glittering Court (The Glittering Court #1) by Richelle Mead

Published: April 5th 2016 by Razorbill

Genre: young adult, alternate history (?)

Goodreads summary: Big and sweeping, spanning from the refined palaces of Osfrid to the gold dust and untamed forests of Adoria, The Glittering Court tells the story of Adelaide, an Osfridian countess who poses as her servant to escape an arranged marriage and start a new life in Adoria, the New World. But to do that, she must join the Glittering Court.

Both a school and a business venture, the Glittering Court is designed to transform impoverished girls into upper-class ladies who appear destined for powerful and wealthy marriages in the New World. Adelaide naturally excels in her training, and even makes a few friends: the fiery former laundress Tamsin and the beautiful Sirminican refugee Mira. She manages to keep her true identity hidden from all but one: the intriguing Cedric Thorn, son of the wealthy proprietor of the Glittering Court.

When Adelaide discovers that Cedric is hiding a dangerous secret of his own, together they hatch a scheme to make the best of Adelaide’s deception. Complications soon arise—first as they cross the treacherous seas from Osfrid to Adoria, and then when Adelaide catches the attention of a powerful governor.

But no complication will prove quite as daunting as the potent attraction simmering between Adelaide and Cedric. An attraction that, if acted on, would scandalize the Glittering Court and make them both outcasts in wild, vastly uncharted lands… 

REVIEW

The ratings are already getting downhill for this one, but it was much better than Soundless, Mead’s previous novel, in my opinion. Still, I think this one is misleading, because some people went into it thinking it was fantasy, but it’s not. It would be closer to a historical novel, but it’s not quite this either.

The concept of this book is similar to The Selection, because it’s about educating young women to send them to the New World in order to marry wealthy men. Of course, it focused on fashion and manners, which I really liked. While I was hooked straight away because of the concept, I didn’t understand why a girl escaping an arranged marriage would go to the Glittering Court, where she would have an arranged marriage. I understand that she thought she didn’t have another choice, but it still felt odd and the book was built upon it. So of course, I wasn't surprised when she didn't want to marry. Nevertheless, I really liked Adelaide’s story and Mead managed to write a good standalone, evenly paced and that didn’t bore me. She also gave enough hints about the other characters –this will be a companion series- that I’m excited to read Tamsin’s and Mira’s sides of the story.

This world had weak world-building. Because I knew it was inspired by Elizabethan England, I knew what to expect and what to imagine. Yes, there were some descriptions, but I felt like she could have explained a little more. Sometimes, countries were mentioned and I had no idea what she was talking about. I don’t really understand why the author chose to set this book in another world, because it felt almost identical to Elizabethan England. But, I love Elizabethan England, so I considered it was set in it. Yes, I’m cheating. For example, there were religious conflicts, Natives being chased from their land and so on.

I enjoyed being in Adelaide’s head in this novel. She was a regular nobility character but I thought she was brave, because she chose to go in a foreign land in order to escape her land. She was strong-tempered and stood up for her loved ones. Tamsin and Mira were different from her, but I have to say I loved them all. Moreover, I didn’t expect them to have such a strong friendship, because it was about finding husbands and I thought they would be mean to each other all the time. Cedric was compelling love interest and he had chemistry with Adelaide from the beginning –yes Mead did it again! I liked reading about their love story and I was rooting for them. All the characters had secrets and I’m getting crazy because we don’t know all of them yet. But, I found it disappointing that the main character got to know what it was about and it was a blank in the narration.

Plot-wise, I found that so many things happened, but sometimes it was too much... I felt like I read two novels instead of one! It was a rich story and Mead never stopped too long on each part –the education in the manors wasn’t a really big part of the story- which I didn’t really expect. There were many subplot points and this book went into surprising directions. Moreover, at some point, a character was almost rapped and it literally made no sense. Yes, it's an important issue but I felt it was just used as a plot tool. It wrapped up pretty nicely though, but it was also a new beginning for Adelaide, and I really hope we’ll see glimpses of her future in the next books.  

Overall, it wasn’t Vampire Academy or Bloodlines, because it wasn’t a fantasy book, but I still liked it. I don’t know if this book is for everyone, but it goes much farther than the arranged marriage aspect. I read this book quickly because it was gripping but the world-building was meh. Still, the main characters were strong-minded and I can’t even say which one I liked the more. Adelaide’s story wrapped up nicely, but I’m eager to read more. Typically, this is a case where I'm conflicted on the rating...

Do you love Richelle Mead's books? Have you read this one yet? Do you plan to?