The Queen’s Resistance by Rebecca Ross – a Review

The Queen’s Resistance by Rebecca Ross – a Review

 

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Description:
Finally, Brienna is a mistress of knowledge and is settling into her role as the daughter of Davin MacQuinn, a disgraced lord who returned to Maevana to reclaim his house. Though she’d just survived a revolution, one that will finally return a queen to the throne, she faces another difficult challenge. She must prove herself trustworthy to the MacQuinns. But as Queen Isolde Kavanagh’s closest confidant, she’ll have to balance serving her father’s house as well as her country. And then there’s Cartier, a wholly separate but desirable factor in her new life.

Aodhan Morgane, formerly known as Cartier Évariste, is adjusting to the stark contrast between his pre-rebellion life in Valenia as a master of knowledge and his current one as the lord of a fallen house. During his castle’s restoration, he discovers a ten-year-old boy named Tomas, whose past and parentage are a complete mystery. So when Cartier’s former pupil Brienna is as taken with Tomas as he is, he lets his mind wander—what if he doesn’t have to raise him or his house alone?

As the Lannon trial rapidly approaches, Brienna and Cartier must put their feelings aside to concentrate on forging alliances, executing justice, and ensuring that no one interferes with the queen’s coronation. But resistance is rumbling among the old regime’s supporters, who are desperate to find a weakness in the rebels’ forces. And nothing makes a person more vulnerable than deep-seated love.

 

 

Review:

The Queen’s Resistance by Rebecca Ross  is the 2nd book in her fabulous The Queen’s Rising Duology .  I couldn’t wait to read this book, as I loved the first book The Queen’s Rising.  Once again, I am in awe of Rebecca Ross’ fantastic storytelling in a wonderful YA fantasy world, especially for an author whose debut novel was in that first book.  I loved The Queen’s Resistance.

The Queen’s Resistance picks up a short time after the end of the Queen’s Rising, where the revolution has successfully ended to be followed by a massive rebuilding.  Our heroes that helped win the war, Brienna (our wonderful heroine), Cartier (our hero), Isolde (the new Queen), Davin MacQuinn & Luc MacQuinn ( Brienna’s adopted family) meet to determine the other houses if they are true allies or enemies from the then evil King.  With Isolde’s coronation upcoming, grievances are being asked from the surviving families to determine who besides the evil king will be executed for their terrible deeds.  While decisions are being made, each of the families will return to their rightful Home after hiding for 25 years. Brienna goes with her father and brother to their house, with many of those who served MacQuinn also returning.  Wheras, everyone is happy to have the MacQuinns back, there are some who resent Brienna.  That will change over the course of time, but it makes Brienna uncomfortable listening to the whispers; but some of the maids will openly accept her and help her. Cartier, who is now known by his true name as Aodhan Morgane, returns to a house that has fallen apart, but those who are loyal to the Morganes, will also return to help bring the house back to its glory.  A young boy, Tomas, is found hiding in the house, and Cartier will take him in; he will play a major part in this story.

As the families of all the houses return to their rightful homes, there are still other houses that were loyal to the Lannons, and cannot be trusted.  Though the revolution is over there are still enemies at these houses that are determined to stop Isolde from being Queen of Maevana.

This was such a wonderful heartwarming story, as each of them try to rebuild their lives and homes from the horrific deaths and tragedy years before.  I loved Brienna, as she continues to be a terrific heroine, as well as a wonderful friend and consultant to Isolde, not to mention her romance with Cartier.  But the danger is not over, as betrayals will put lives on the line.  Allies and loyalties must be confirmed, and enemies dealt with before the coronation to ensure safety for all. 

What follows is an exciting, intriguing, action packed, and heartwarming adventure that will have Brienna in the middle of betrayals, deception and twists that will have us holding our breaths.  As we raced to the climatic finish, the final half of the book was intense and heartbreaking, as we could not put the book down.  I will say I loved the ending that was written so well by Ross, as it was very heartwarming, with love and happiness.  Brienna was such a great heroine, and her romance with Cartier was wonderful. I loved Isolde, the new Queen, and her connection to Brienna. Ross also created some wonderful secondary characters.

The Queen’s Ressistance was a fantastic, fascinating, page burner adventure in a magnificent world that I would love to continue.  I cannot tell too much more, as it would be major spoilers.  You need to find out everything for yourself.  I loved every moment of this book, with its amazing characters, history, family, war, and love.  Bravo to Rebecca Ross for this wonderful journey.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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The Queen’s Rising by Rebecca Ross – a Review

The Queen’s Rising by Rebecca Ross – a Review

 

The Queen's RisingAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description:
When her seventeenth summer solstice arrives, Brienna desires only two things: to master her passion and to be chosen by a patron.

Growing up in the southern Kingdom of Valenia at the renowned Magnalia House should have prepared her for such a life. While some are born with an innate talent for one of the five passions—art, music, dramatics, wit, and knowledge—Brienna struggled to find hers until she belatedly chose to study knowledge. However, despite all her preparations, Brienna’s greatest fear comes true—the solstice does not go according to plan and she is left without a patron.

Months later, her life takes an unexpected turn when a disgraced lord offers her patronage. Suspicious of his intent, and with no other choices, she accepts. But there is much more to his story, and Brienna soon discovers that he has sought her out for his own vengeful gain. For there is a dangerous plot being planned to overthrow the king of Maevana—the archrival kingdom of Valenia—and restore the rightful queen, and her magic, to the northern throne. And others are involved—some closer to Brienna than she realizes.

With war brewing between the two lands, Brienna must choose whose side she will remain loyal to—passion or blood. Because a queen is destined to rise and lead the battle to reclaim the crown. The ultimate decision Brienna must determine is: Who will be that queen?

 

 

Review:

The Queen’s Rising by Rebecca Ross is the 1st book in a trilogy. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book, but I am happy to say I loved The Queen’s Rising, and the fantastic writing of a new author for me, Rebecca Ross.  This is YA Fantasy at its best, and a fascinating world created by Ross, which I could not put down.

Brienna, who at 10 years old, was sent by her grandfather to Magnolia House, which was sort of an elite boarding school, but with students who would live together for 7 years to develop their passion  ( art, music, dramatics, wit, and knowledge).  But Brienna did not excel at any passion, though in her last three years, she mastered her passion in Knowledge.  Brienna has lived in the kingdom of Valenia all of her life, but she has visions about being a Maevana girl.  She has no idea who her father is, and her grandfather refuses to talk about it.  So while she studies knowledge, Brienna, with her master teacher . studies and obsesses over everything about Maevana.

I really enjoyed seeing Brienna with her friends at Magnolia House, as they all were expected to receive an offer from a Patron at graduation. Only Brienna did not.  But a Patron will come forward, once it is learned that she has visions of the past from Maevana.  The crux of this worldbuilding:  the violent king of Maevana is destructive, killing anyone at will, including woman and children. Maevana was always ruled by a Queen, who had magic to fight off evil. 25 years ago, the Queen was murdered, and the Stone of Eventine (which controls the magic), was stolen, and many were slaughtered. Three Lord’s of the Houses in Maevana escaped.  Brienna’s visions are memories of one of the bad guys during that revolution, with clues that could help bring the kingdom back to its glory days.

What follows is an exciting, interesting, and mindboggling journey that will have Brienna finally find out the truth about her heritage, and  bring her back to her homeland.  A war is once again on horizon that will reveal secrets, betrayals, intrigue and a plot that could kill them all. As we raced to the climatic finish, the final half of the book was intense, with us holding our breaths until the very end.   I loved Brienna, as she turned into a strong and loyal heroine.  The wonderful secondary characters that are her friends, family and teacher are created so well by Ross.  Even the villains of this book were created to be truly evil.  

The Queen’s Rising was a fantastic, fascinating, page burner adventure into a magnificent world that sort of felt like old time Ireland.  I cannot tell too much more, as it would be major spoilers.  You need to find out everything for yourself.  I loved every moment of this book, with its amazing characters, history, family, war, and love.  Bravo to Rebecca Ross for this wonderful journey.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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