I loved this book. It has a grumpy witch queen who just wants to be left alone to do her magic experiments. It has a sweet poet, who is actually an escaped Archduke masquerading as a dark wizard/librarian. There are crow friends, wicked queen friends, and not human people friends. This layer cake of a book has kindness in every slice. Just because someone is a wicked queen with a bone crown and flaming skulls lighting the path to her castle doesn’t mean she isn’t also bisexual disaster marshmallow who is extremely protective of her friends, her staff, and the people of her kingdom.
Felix, the young Archduke of Estarion has decided that he doesn’t want to be murdered, and the only person he knows stronger than his chief minister is the Witch of the East, Queen Saskia. Saskia has recently deposed her uncle, who murdered her parents and took the Kitvarian throne for himself. Felix flees to Saskia’s castle where he intends to throw himself on her mercy, but instead is mistaken for a dark wizard named Fabian, and hired to organize the Queen’s library. The only thing Felix was allowed to do under the First Minister (also his regent while he was a child and his father in law while his much loved wife was alive) was study poetry. His knowledge of poetry is useful several times during the book. (Get that Liberal Arts degree!) While Saskia is working to keep her kingdom safe, she folds “Fabian” into her family. He is adopted by one of the members of her crow flock and accepted by her inner circle.
The world Saskia and Felix live in is not a kind one. Saskia has been demonized for her magic, non humans are persecuted, Felix was beaten and kept isolated while cruelties were carried out in his name. But Saskia’s castle, with its terrifying ornaments, is a place of kindness and caretaking. I had to stop reading a few times, overwhelmed by my wish for a softer, gentler world. I loved it. I loved the ending and I can’t wait to pick up the next wicked queen’s story.
I received this as an advance reader copy from Tor Publishing/Bramble and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.
