Review: The Queen’s Resistance

The Queen’s Rising duology from Rebecca Ross comes to a satisfying and show stopping conclusion with the Queens Resistance. This contemporary tale of the young graduate Brienna throwing herself in the deep end to ensure the coronation of the rightful magician queen in the fictional Maevana, borders between a tale of political fantasy and self transformation.

Rebecca Ross’ latest novel has all the elements of a cosy fantastical read with: an emotional dual narrative, a increasingly raw and suspenseful plot and genuine true to life issues for the protagonists. Brienna, a newly appointed Mistress of Knowledge has succeeded in finding and returning the Stone of Eventide and its magic to Isobel Kavanagh. Cartier has resumed his title as Lord but he’s struggling with the responsibilities after years of hiding. In the midst of everything, Brienna and Cartier begin a slow burning relationship as they realise they’re more alike than they thought. The pair are reunited as they join a team, who is sent of ensuring Isobel’s coronation goes as smoothly as possible.

So far, it seems all is well in Maevana but there are followers who remain loyal to the imprisoned King Lannon, who awaits trials. A resistance against a magic gifted queen is coming, and its followers wish to see the throne belong to a cruel king, who will outlaw magic, and outlaw any Queen of Maevana who attempts to claim her rightful throne. The situation grows more complicated as the people wish to condemn the Lannon children to the same fate as their father. Soon Brienna and Cartier must refocus their feelings on a vulnerable time sensitive mission to forge alliances against the queen’s resistance and ensure justice for the people of Maevana. This sequel is part fantasy, part political conflict and part deep emotional saga, in both the hearts and minds of the characters.

This book takes pleasure in both keeping and changing the traditional conventions of a fantasy novel. In her world, as a young noble woman who has recently become a mistress of knowledge, Brienna is struggling to find acceptance among the MacQuinn people, and with herself. She represents a lot of young graduates today, who are thrown into the world of work, relationships, and freedom, but are unsure on how to handle it all. She is also struggling to be accepted by the people as a true ward of Lord MacQuinn. Meanwhile, Cartier is lost over how to rebuild House Morgane to its former glory, and return to a life he’s left behind for so long. Emotional intelligence is a very apparent theme throughout the novel, as Brienna and Cartier deal with their struggles as adults.

The plot moves along at a rapid place, but the author still takes the time to slow events down at certain points, to envoys emotion in the reader even in the most suspenseful or shocking moments in the book. The reader never feels as if they don’t know what is going on or that they can’t connect or relate to the characters; as even though the Queens Resistance is part of a duology, the novel is capable of acting as a stand alone novel in itself. As the events of the previous novel is woven into the storyline as part of the backstory. This allows both books in the duology to be connected to each other, but it doesn’t require readers of the second novel to have read the first one.

However, the overall tone for the novel is slightly darker and more serious than its predecessor. This is because it tackles that all important question, that readers are left with at the end of the queen’s rising. What happens after they celebrate their victories and ride off into the sunset together, so to speak. Issues of violence, kidnapping, child abuse, and political strife are touched upon during the course of this sequel. Rebecca Ross tackles these issues in a way that is both truthful and understanding, and brings awareness to these issues within the fantasy based settings of the novel.

Ross portrays the idea that where they may be fear, there is hope and we should always be there for each other’s during these times. In the end, everything works out but the characters paths to get there, particularly for Brienna, Cartier, and Queen Isobel, have not been easy and perhaps that’s the point. They got where they ended up because they never gave up on their minds’ dreams and their hearts’ desires.

If you like to read thought provoking novels, filled with romance, intrigue and social awareness; then look no further than the Queen’s Resistance. And don’t forget about its predecessor, the Queen’s Rising.