A Curse of Queens by Amanda Bouchet – a Review

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Description:
The queen has been cursed, and no one knows who’s behind the plot to threaten the realm’s fragile peace. Desperate to help, Jocasta hatches a plan to find Circe’s Garden, a fabled island where she hopes to discover an antidote. But she can’t do it alone. She needs the strong arm and unflinching bravery of the warrior she’s loved since childhood—her brother’s right-hand-man and captain of the guard, Flynn of Sinta.

Together they can do the impossible. Yet with treachery brewing on Mount Olympus, one thing is clear: Thalyria and its new royals are still pawns in an epic game of power—one that might end in a War of Gods.

Review:

A Curse of Queens by Amanda Bouchet is the 4^th book in her fantastic Kingmaker Chronicles series.  Having loved the original three books in this series, I was thrilled to learn that Amanda was giving us more of the Kingmaker Chronicles; I could not wait to read A Curse of Queens.  Once again, I was in my glory, reading this wonderful fantasy, so very well written by Amanda Bouchet.  A Curse of Queens takes place months after the ending of the third book, and while it reads very well as a standalone, I feel you should read the earlier books, if you have not read them.

Cat & Griffin starred in the previous three books, ending their trilogy; now Cat has been cursed, and no one knows who is behind this plot. Jocasta, our heroine, is Griffin’s sister and a healer.  She studies the curse, and decides she may have a way to save Cat and their unborn child, but she needs to find an antidote.  The antidote is on Circe’s Garden, an unknown mythical island, that no one has ever come back from.

Jocasta says she will need help, and knows Flynn, the man she has loved for many years, will go with her.  Flynn has secretly loved Jocasta, but due to losing so many family members, he refuses to allow himself to show his feelings.   Cat and Griffin assign others to join Jocasta and Flynn on this mission; Carver, Bellanca and Prometheus.

What follows is a non-stop action, intense, suspenseful adventure that had me constantly on the edge of my seat, unable to put the book down. Along the way, they are faced with epic battles, with every member of the Elpis team will find themselves in dangerous situations.  Jocasta was a great heroine, with her smarts, healing ability, knowledge of spells and potions, not to mention she was strong and feisty. I loved her and Flynn together, and in the later part of the book, they finally succumb to their feelings.  I loved the great secondary characters, Carver, Bellanca, Prometheus, as well as the Greek mythology gods they come across.  I also got a kick out of the constant bantering between Carver and Bellanca.

A Curse of Queens was another fantastic addition to the Kingmaker Chronicles, which was also action filled, intense, with amazing battles.  We also got a fabulous sexy romance, great bantering and wonderful secondary characters. If you have not read the Kingmaker Chronicles first three books (Cat & Griffin), you need to go back and read them. It is a must read, and a great addition to follow with A Curse of Queens. Amanda Bouchet is one of my favorite fantasy authors, as I will never miss anything she writes.   

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher