The Queen's Choice (Heirs of Chrior: Book One)
Written by Cayla Kluver
Published January 2014
512 Pages
Magic was seeping out of me, black and agonizing. I could see it drifting away. The magic that would let me pass the Road to reach home again.
When sixteen-year-old Anya learns that her aunt, Queen of the Faerie Kingdom of Chrior, will soon die, her grief is equalled only by her despair for the future of the kingdom. Her young cousin, Illumina, is unfit to rule, and Anya is determined not to take up the queen's mantle herself.
Convinced that the only solution is to find Prince Zabriel, who long ago disappeared into the human realm of Warckum, and persuade him to take up his rightful crown, Anya journeys into the Warckum Territory to bring him home. But her journey is doomed to be more harrowing than she ever could have imagined.
Sixteen year old Anya likes to journey beyond the Fairy Kingdom of Chrior, the Redwood forest the royal fairy calls home. But when her aunt, the Queen of the kingdom begins the search for an heir to the throne, the obvious choice is Anya. But taking on the role would keep Anya in the forest and her unstable cousin Illumina is too young and disturbed to become the next ruler of the fae. But before the title is handed down to the next generation, the Queen wants to see her estranged son, the half mortal Zabriel. Zabriel left the kingdom more than two years ago and clearly has no intention of returning, so young Illumina is sent into the human world to retrieve the lost Prince. But the world isn't a place for inexperienced Fairies and the Qeen may have just sentenced the rightful heir to an early death sentence.
Against the wishes of Davic, Anya's betrothed, Anya follows her cousin into the Warckum Territory, where Hunters seek out Fae, often taking their wings as morbid trophies. But Anya's journey isn't only to trace Illumina's footsteps and find Zabriel, but to find herself, to discover a world beyond the life of a royal, a Fae and to finally live without regret.
My Thoughts
The Queen's Choice isn't my usual read, I tend not to delve into Fantasy books featuring faires, or Fae as they're known, but I quite enjoyed this one. More adventure than fantasy, it tells the story of Anya who although lives within the hidden forest, she wants nothing more than to travel to human settlements, much to the annoyance of her father who wants to keep her safe and her beloved Davic, who is happy to settle in the Redwood and begin their lives together. He's just one of many who choose to hide from the real world, with Hunters looking for the highly sort after Fae wings.
But the storyline dragged on a little too much, with several chapters falling flat which probably could have been condensed. At five hundred pages, unless you dint mind lengthy sagas, it might become a little tedious. Overall, I really enjoyed it, but it lacked emotion. I felt disconnected to the majority of the characters, apart from mortal Shea who Anya befriends. Although she's more drunken harlot than responsible travelling companion at times. If you're looking for an epic fantasy, this isn't it, but a slow world building action adventure, then give it a go.
Hm, I'm not sure. I like adventurous books, but I don't think I can handle 500 pages of characters I can't connect with. At least you still liked it for the most part, Kelly. :)
ReplyDeleteIt was one of those good books that had the potential of greatness, but there were far too many boring passages. I think it's more so that you would expect fantasy (although I'm not a fan of YA fairies), but it was more adventure, journey and finding yourself. Bit of a mishmash of everything. Took me a week to get through it.
DeleteAt least you finished this book. Glad you enjoyed it more than I did, and I could definitely see that the problems I had with it, you did as well. Are you going to be reading the second in the series when it comes out?
ReplyDeleteI love Fairies and Fae, I just find them so fascinating but a 500 page book with characters you can’t connect to is crazy. You must have the patience of a saint, I don’t think I could have finished this!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great review Kelly!