Description
Eugenie Markham is a shaman for hire, paid to bind and banish creatures from the Otherworld. But after her last battle, she's also become queen of the Thorn Land. It's hardly an envious life, not with her kingdom in tatters, her love life in chaos, and Eugenie eager to avoid the prophecy about her firstborn destroying mankind. And now young girls are disappearing from the Otherworld, and no one-except Eugenie-seems willing to find out why. Eugenie has spilled plenty of fey blood in her time, but this enemy is shrewd, subtle, and nursing a very personal grudge. And the men in her life aren't making things any easier. Her boyfriend Kiyo is preoccupied with his pregnant ex, and sexy fey king Dorian always poses a dangerous distraction. With or without their help, Eugenie must venture deep into the Otherworld and trust in an unpredictable power she can barely control. Reluctant queen or not, Eugenie has sworn to do her duty-even if it means facing the darkest-and deadliest-side of her nature. . .
Reviews
Best series she's created
by D. Paymar from Virginia on 2010-08-22
It's hard to understand low reviews on such a great book and series. I enjoy her characters and find the relationships and direction the series is taking superior to her other series. For people to rate it a 1 star would put this book in the worst of the worst, which is not the case. Out of the 3 different series she has running right now this series is the one I'm most enjoying and can't wait for the next one. People make mistakes, especially where personal feeling go, and this is the case with our heroin. She's been thrust into a new world and doesn't understand everything about it and is making the best of a situation while trying to discover who she can trust. Some people seem to feel the hero of any story should be the perfect, never make mistakes, no everything from the beginning type of character. The fact she struggles along trying to deal with a bad situation in a human way, which means making mistakes, is more real than the perfect hero that does everything perfectly. It also leaves me wondering as she goes about the book which direction she'll take in any given decision, this is much better than the story where you can see everything a hundred pages in advance. Great book, great series.
Enjoyable but not perfect
by M. S. Butch from Katonah, New York USA on 2010-08-20
I was torn between 3 and 4 stars. Yes, the book has some flaws, but I enjoyed it more than most "urban fantasy." I should perhaps admit that I do not read vampire books -- the whole vampire thing leaves me cold. I agree with the comments made by other reviewers: Eugenie seems to run around without planning ahead or thinking things through. She is astonished to discover that turning her kingdom from a temperate climate into a desert has caused hardship to its inhabitants. Hel-lo!
I had a problem throughout with the author's use of time. Why does everything happen in a day? Time should elapse more normally; for example, weeks, if not months, should have elapsed between the end of the prior book and the beginning of this one; when Eugenie brings textbooks to the Otherworld, a month or so should elapse before innovations begin to built.
I could do without the long sex scenes (mostly they make me laugh), but I know that a lot of people like them. I actually prefer the "foreplay" scenes, such as the quasi-romantic scenes with Dorian.
On the plus side, like other reviewers, I enjoyed the cast. Eugenie is sometimes childish, but she is young, and I think part of the story is her learning and making choices (not all of which will be right). I don't understand why so many readers hate Kiyo. I don't find it at all off-putting that he is excited over the birth of his child and concerned for Maiwenn; I would despise him if he didn't care. Eugenie is acting like a child when she complains about it. And he is not to be despised for being peaceful, and worrying that she will be corrupted by power. It just comes down to the kind of life one wants.
The world-building was also good as far as it goes (maybe a bit derivative of Amber) but it could use elaboration. Its rules are not clear.
In sum, it's pretty good, and I hope there is another in the works; Thorn Queen is a whole year old.
Eugenie Markham has No Clue What She Wants
by Judah from Terre Haute In USA on 2010-07-30
This novel contains explicit scenes, not for kids.
I enjoyed the opening short story about a teenage girl's ghost exorcism more than the rest of the entire book. Mead is really talented in writing interesting paranormal briefs, and if she published an anthology of short stories, I'd buy it without hesitation.
Thorn Queen, the main novel, has outstanding world building and good setting descriptions. Unfortunately, it revolves around Eugenie Markham, an impulsive and unlikeable main character who doesn't make smart or good decisions. This lack of sense is why I can't give four stars, despite how much every part of the novel that isn't the main plot impressed me. Honestly, if not for the main character's stupidity, this series would be in the top tier of urban fantasy. The descriptions and supporting cast are awesome.
Eugenie Markham gained the responsibilities as the Thorn Queen in book one, and in book two she totally botches everything. Despite commanding a kingdom of magic users and elves, she has to go and take care of problems *personally.* Even when it's really stupid to rush in with spells blazing because she doesn't have information or a plan. On the romance side, she *thinks* she is with Kiyo, though he obviously cares about his child with another woman much more than her. Dorian is also there, and that matters. Personally I found the romance side of Thorn Queen to be a trainwreck, because Eugenie Markham is stupid.
Overall a great book combined with a main character incapable of deciding what she wants ends in triple stars of 'meh', but I'm invested in the series and will read number three.
Richelle Mead's Books
by Heidi R. Lee from Indianapolis, Indiana on 2010-07-21
I just love this author!!! I have so far everything that Richelle has written that I could fine.
Not surprised
by Debora Ryan from Michigan on 2010-07-12
Mead has become one of my favorite authors. I got to know her a few years ago with the Vampire Academy novels, and I never miss a chance to read this phenominal writer.
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