Review: The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows

The Orphan Queen (The Orphan Queen, #1)The Orphan Queen
(The Orphan Queen #1)
by Jodi Meadows
YA Fantasy
Hardcover & ebook393 Pages
March 10th 2015 by Katherine Tegen Books

Summary

Wilhelmina has a hundred identities.

She is a princess. When the Indigo Kingdom conquered her homeland, Wilhelmina and other orphaned children of nobility were taken to Skyvale, the Indigo Kingdom’s capital. Ten years later, they are the Ospreys, experts at stealth and theft. With them, Wilhelmina means to take back her throne.

She is a spy. Wil and her best friend, Melanie, infiltrate Skyvale Palace to study their foes. They assume the identities of nobles from a wraith-fallen kingdom, but enemies fill the palace, and Melanie’s behavior grows suspicious. With Osprey missions becoming increasingly dangerous and their leader more unstable, Wil can’t trust anyone.

She is a threat. Wraith is the toxic by-product of magic, and for a century using magic has been forbidden. Still the wraith pours across the continent, reshaping the land and animals into fresh horrors. Soon it will reach the Indigo Kingdom. Wilhelmina’s magic might be the key to stopping the wraith, but if the vigilante Black Knife discovers Wil’s magic, she will vanish like all the others.

Jodi Meadows introduces a vivid new fantasy full of intrigue, romance, dangerous magic, and one girl’s battle to reclaim her place in the world.

  

My Review

The Orphan Queen is a fantasy full of complex characters, a mysterious magic, a rich setting, danger, adventure, betrayal, and a slowly-building romance that is both intense and sweet. It has everything you would look for in a story and more. My only complaint would be the wait for the next book, The Mirror King, which doesn't release until April 2016.

The setting. This is a fully imagined world. There are different classes of society and the writing conveys each completely. You get a taste and feel of each class as Wil plays her various roles and tries to blend into them. There is such contrast in the disparity of the poor to the wealthy and those who live in the palace. I loved the conflict in Wil's roles as well as some of those surrounding her.

The characters. Wilhelmina or "Wil" was an amazing character. She has been living somewhat in the background until events and her feelings force her to take a good look and question if what she has believed, was taught, and is following is correct. I enjoyed seeing her develop and change and to become more open. Of course her feelings and choices affect others around her. It was interesting to see other characters go through their own journeys and see their decisions. I also loved Black Knife. I knew the mystery there from little hints that were left throughout the story. It was interesting and rather thrilling to see his unmasking take place and to see how he changed during the story as well.

The romance was pretty perfect. I loved that it was weaved through the story so well. Political intrigue, deceptions, friendship, magic... All of them play powerful roles and were intricately woven together to tell the story. Revenge also plays a role. Wil blames so much on specific people as did another she is working with, and yet, to me, the person at fault wasn't who they blamed but Wil's country's old general who originally kidnapped a young boy against his lieges' wishes which initiated everything (I just had to get that out there because it still makes me mad!).

In one word The Orphan Queen was magnificent. I knew before finishing the book that I was going to have a tough time waiting for the next one, but the ending definitely ensured that I would. I'd definitely recommend it to fantasy, both YA and adult, readers.

Content: Clean

Source: Library


Have you read this or do you plan too? If you have read it, any predictions for the next book?

6 comments

  1. Rebecca Kellerman7/9/15, 9:28 AM

    This book sounds awesome!

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  2. I was pretty wary about reading this book because I wasn't a huge fan of the author's Newsoul trilogy, but your review has me sold! It sounds epic!

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  3. I really want to read this one!

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  4. This sounds like a good one! I love fantasy, so I'll have to check it out.

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  5. Yay!!! I am so glad to see that you liked this so well. I have a copy and look forward to reading it when I dig myself out of the pile that I am under. Great review, BTW.

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  6. REALLY want to read this one. It sounds fantastic! :)

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