The first in a new Young Adult series, The Impostor Queen is the story of Elli, a teenager whose life turns out nothing like she expected.
In a world of ice and fire magic where many people have more of one than the other, The Valtia is the queen of the Kupari people because she is the most powerful wielder of both fire and ice in perfect balance. It is a magic that has been passed down through generations. As each new queen ascends her throne, a successor is named, the girl who will inherit the magic after the death of the queen.
Elli was supposed to be that heir.
But after her queen dies, Elli doesn’t inherit the magic.
Instead, she is forced to flee the city and her people and seek refuge with outlaws.
However, Elli soon realizes that nothing in her world is what she thought it was: the queens used to live to old age; the Counsel of Elders is responsible for more than just advising; the outlaws, are not outlaws so much as refugees; and Elli herself has far more power than she realizes.
I liked this book overall. It was a good read. I enjoyed Elli’s personality, her intelligence, her adaptability, and her need to feel useful.
I enjoyed that despite the fact that Elli never feels powerful, she isn’t weak either. This book successfully walks the line of Elli’s agency (http://www.pcwrede.com/agency-in-fiction/). I have found that when a character is given no agency, I see no reason to continue reading. Although Elli often feels like she doesn't have agency, by the end of the novel the reader finds just how wrong Elli was about herself.
Elli was supposed to be that heir.
But after her queen dies, Elli doesn’t inherit the magic.
Instead, she is forced to flee the city and her people and seek refuge with outlaws.
However, Elli soon realizes that nothing in her world is what she thought it was: the queens used to live to old age; the Counsel of Elders is responsible for more than just advising; the outlaws, are not outlaws so much as refugees; and Elli herself has far more power than she realizes.
I liked this book overall. It was a good read. I enjoyed Elli’s personality, her intelligence, her adaptability, and her need to feel useful.
I enjoyed that despite the fact that Elli never feels powerful, she isn’t weak either. This book successfully walks the line of Elli’s agency (http://www.pcwrede.com/agency-in-fiction/). I have found that when a character is given no agency, I see no reason to continue reading. Although Elli often feels like she doesn't have agency, by the end of the novel the reader finds just how wrong Elli was about herself.
There, is of course, romance within this novel… but it is not what this story revolves around, exactly. The middle of the book has a lot about Elli's developing feelings. Also: there is no love triangle, thank goodness: I have gotten so sick of those.
Although as the reader we do come to learn that Elli’s first love is her handmaiden, which makes Elli canonically bisexual. While I definitely like the idea of Elli not being heterosexual, I’m not sure that that was given enough attention. It’s barely referenced when the handmaiden is a prominent character, the reader has to figure that out by themselves, it is only confirmed once towards the end of the book. Additionally, the handmaiden is not in a majority of the book and so the reader mostly sees Elli’s growing romance with a male. It feels a little like an easy out for the author and was a little disappointing because of that.
Although as the reader we do come to learn that Elli’s first love is her handmaiden, which makes Elli canonically bisexual. While I definitely like the idea of Elli not being heterosexual, I’m not sure that that was given enough attention. It’s barely referenced when the handmaiden is a prominent character, the reader has to figure that out by themselves, it is only confirmed once towards the end of the book. Additionally, the handmaiden is not in a majority of the book and so the reader mostly sees Elli’s growing romance with a male. It feels a little like an easy out for the author and was a little disappointing because of that.
All the other characters were equally as compelling. For me, at least, it never felt like any of the characters fell flat, or did something out of character.
So again, overall this was a good read and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy with a female protagonist.
So again, overall this was a good read and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy with a female protagonist.
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