Exiled Queen - Cinda Williams Chima

Young Adult
Pages: 592
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Release Date: September 28, 2010

** Book 2 of The Seven Realms

You can't always run from danger...

Haunted by the loss of his mother and sister, Han Alister journeys south to begin his schooling at Mystwerk House in Oden’s Ford.   But leaving the Fells doesn’t mean danger isn’t far behind.  Han is hunted every step of the way by the Bayars, a powerful wizarding family set on reclaiming the amulet Han stole from them.  And Mystwerk House has dangers of its own.  There, Han meets Crow, a mysterious wizard who agrees to tutor Han in the darker parts of sorcery—but the bargain they make is one Han may regret.

Meanwhile, Princess Raisa ana’Marianna runs from a forced marriage in the Fells, accompanied by her friend Amon and his triple of cadets.  Now, the safest place for Raisa is Wein House, the military academy at Oden's Ford.  If Raisa can pass as a regular student, Wein House will offer both sanctuary and the education Raisa needs to succeed as the next Gray Wolf queen.

The Exiled Queen is an epic tale of uncertain friendships, cut-throat politics, and the irresistible power of attraction.

I dont quite know how to even begin to review this book without me going all fangirly over it. It's been quite some time since I've fallen head over heels for a series, specially for a high fantasy one. This book was magnificent... epic... glorious... monumental! I thought I loved the first one until I read this one, and gee, am I desperate to read book 3. 

I am seriously awestruck by the greatness of the world Cinda created. Even though this one was in a different scenery because they traveled south, and I did miss some of the previous scenarios, it was as unbelievably atmospheric as the first. Her alternate world of fantastical greatness that left me longing to live in it once again. The characters bloomed, just like any teenager, they've been growing up and unexpectedly growing together. Every single character was fantastic and well developed.

The writing is magical and sucks you in right away. It's the kind of writing that makes me sigh, wishing every book was written half as good as this one. Cinda has quickly become one of my favorite authors. She must seriously have some kind of enchantment spell in her words. Also, the cover blew me away. You know from The Demon King what the cover represents, and it looks gorgeous. I cant wait to see the next cover.

 "The Characters, the brilliantly woven plot, the magic in the storytelling, the atmospheric vividness of this wonderful world, and everything within these pages is pure perfection."- from The Demon King review. 

This is one of those series that will someday become a classic. It has everything you wish for in a book and so much more. So believe me when I say: YOU NEED TO READ THIS. It is the best high fantasy book I've ever read!

NOTE: It was previously scheduled as a trilogy, but now there will be 4 books! (Squeee!)

See my review of The Seven Realms #1: The Demon King

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