A Book Obsession..: Early Review: The Mirror King by Jodi Meadows

Early Review: The Mirror King by Jodi Meadows

, by Kt Clapsadl

The Mirror Kind by Jodi Meadows

The Orphan Queen #2

Wilhelmina has a hundred enemies.

HER FRIENDS HAVE TURNED. After her identity is revealed during the Inundation, Princess Wilhelmina is kept prisoner by the Indigo Kingdom, with the Ospreys lost somewhere in the devastated city. When the Ospreys’ leader emerges at the worst possible moment, leaving Wil’s biggest ally on his deathbed, she must become Black Knife to set things right.

HER MAGIC IS UNCONTROLLABLE. Wil’s power is to animate, not to give true life, but in the wraithland she commanded a cloud of wraith mist to save herself, and later ordered it solid. Now there is a living boy made of wraith—destructive and deadly, and willing to do anything for her.

HER HEART IS TORN. Though she’s ready for her crown, declaring herself queen means war. Caught between what she wants and what is right, Wilhelmina realizes the throne might not even matter. Everyone thought the wraith was years off, but already it’s destroying Indigo Kingdom villages. If she can’t protect both kingdoms, soon there won’t be a land to rule.

In this stunning conclusion to THE ORPHAN QUEEN, Jodi Meadows follows Wilhelmina’s breathtaking and brave journey from orphaned criminal on the streets to magic-wielding queen.

I read and moderately enjoyed THE ORPHAN QUEEN, it didn't wow me, but kept me entertained enough to keep reading. I had hoped the sequel would prove to be more of an engrossing read, but unfortunately it wasn't. I felt that there was entirely too much time spent on politics and not enough on the real threat. I did appreciate how the author used the politic issues like a chess board, and it was interesting to see each part play out, but I just felt it held too much of the focus. It's a very long book, and by drastically lessening the politics and adding more to the wraith issues I feel this would have been a much more compelling read. That's not to say it was a bad one, but yet again it didn't wow me as I would have preferred.

The romance felt more than a bit forced for me in this book, even more so than the first installment. It was set up where the reader is supposed to feel the yearning and devastation as duty keeps the pair apart. And yet it felt forced and not realistic, almost like they were motions rather than real. Honestly I felt like there was more depth in the various friendships. That being said perhaps if the politics had not of overshadowed everything so much the romance would have felt like less of an afterthought.

Romance and politic issues aside, I will say that the last third of the book really shined. It was so jammed pack with heart pounding action and events that I was sucked up in the whirlwind. Once I reached that point I simply couldn't put the book down and it made the long, long read prior to that part worth it. For all the things that frustrated me, at least I can say it went out with one heck of a bang.

This series, and THE MIRROR KING had the feel and makings of an epic story, but unfortunately missing the parts to make it truly epic. That being said, the author shows true talent and I'll be interested in checking out past and future books from her.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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