Mundie Moms

Sunday, February 12, 2017

THE SHADOW QUEEN by C.J. Redwine / Book Review



By: C.J. Redwine
Published by: Balzer & Bray
Released on: February 16th, 2016
Series: Ravenspire #1
Purchase from: Amazon | B&N
Add it to Goodreads
Rating: 5 Black Apples - I LOVED IT
Source: arc from publisher / purchased book 

Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen.

In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman…and bring her Lorelai’s heart.

But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose.


A fantastic fairytale retelling that you won't soon forget. This is an epic fairytale retelling complete with a Princess who is fit to be Queen, an evil step mother, some action, strong characters, magic, romance, a daring journey, a strong heroine, and of course a dragon. Who doesn't love a Prince who suddenly finds himself as King, and has a fiery secret. 

Trust me, this story has it all. Love, loss, courage, and the rightful heirs doing what you'd except them to do-fighting against evil to claim what is rightful theirs, and a whole lot more. This may be a favorite C.J. Redwine book yet. I loved her storytelling, world building, and unforgettable characters.

I absolutely love Lorelai. I admired her courage, and strength. She is one tough girl, who doesn't apologize for who she is. She embraces her magic, draws strength from all she's been through, and stands strong in the face of danger. She is an epic, unforgettable Snow White. She is also loyal incredibly smart, and stubbornly independent. She's someone who's fearless, not afraid to save others, and in the process gains a friend whom she slowly starts to fall for. With Kol, she also gains a confidant, someone she learns to trust, and has someone who helps her when she needs it.

Kol is the perfect match for Lorelai. Sure this King has a lot going against him. Thankfully he has the daring, and feisty Lorelai, on his side. Maybe she saved him a time or two.... which by the way, I loved! Unlike the normal fairytale, Redwine's heroine isn't a damsel in distress. I loved these two. There is so much these two offer each other, outside of an alliance to take down the evil Queen. As much as I enjoyed watching their relationship develop, I also enjoyed getting to know each of them both individually, and seeing them together. Neither of them tries to change the other, but instead, they help each other embrace their duties, and their abilities. 

No fairytale is complete without the sidekicks. Although in this case, these characters are more like family, well some of them literally are, than anything. They add a lot to the story, and influence the choices Lorelai and Kol make. I love it when secondary characters are more than just fillers for a story. They help add depth to an already fascinating story. 

Over all, this is one mesmerizing fairytale. It's a spellbinding story that includes all the elements I love in a well written, unforgettable story. Redwine does Snow White's story justice. I love that she created something all her own, while still adding the elements of a fairytale I loved when I was a kid. This is one fairytale I highly recommend picking up. This book has claimed a new spot on my favorites shelf. I look forward to reading the next book in this series. 

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