A Curse of Queens by Amanda Bouchet
The Kingmaker Chronicles #4
Fantasy Romance
October 4, 2022 by Sourcebooks
ARC
Review by Angela
Before I get into this review, you should know a few things. First, reading the previous books in this series is a must, don’t go into this fourth book in the series and then complain that you are lost. There is an ongoing plot arc and references to previous events leading up to Jo and Flynn going on this epic quest. Secondly, if you are curious about what happened to Piers, there is a novella, Of Fate and Fire, released in July which will give you closure to his character arc. I recommend reading it too.
Now for A Curse of Queens, this book picks up after Cat and Griffin have taken the throne and are working out all the kinks of ruling over a kingdom that has known much division and strife for so long. There is a prologue that finally sheds some light on what happened between Flynn and Jocasta, and why there is a distance between them now. And why the two are positively PINING for each other, yet staying away.
The big conflict arises early on, Cat has been cursed with anti-aging Olympian magic which means that she will never change or grow old. This also means that her pregnancy will never progress and her baby will never be born. Jo searches desperately for a cure and comes up with a daring plan to extract the cure from the garden of a Titan goddess exiled to a mythical island. So she, Flynn, Carver, Bellanca, and Prometheus set out to find this island and bring the cure back to the royal family. Along the way, the team will battle various mythological creatures out to usurp Zeus and the ruling gods on Olympus and undergo several dangerous trials.
I was actually surprised when the release date was announced for this addition to The Kingmaker Chronicles. I had no idea that the author was continuing on with the series. But as soon as I learned Flynn and Jocasta were finally getting their HEA and that there would be more adventures in this world I was all in. While I do think this book starts out a bit slow, once the Elpis Team gets on the road and begins their journey the action starts and only lets up at the end.
Jo and Flynn are that couple where you, the reader, are desperate for them to finally just give in and get together. Flynn fights it especially hard FOR REASONS, Both Jo and I were more than ready for him to stop making excuses. I do think the back-and-forth POV helped me understand both their love and admiration for each other, but also their fears about officially becoming a couple. Flynn especially.
As with all of the books in this series, it’s the well-rounded cast of characters that makes this book shine. Carver and Bellanca’s sniping and playful banter, but working as a team during a battle. Prometheus’s protectiveness and fighting ability. Flynn caring for his team in small ways. Jo’s intelligence and determination to help Cat and baby Eleni. It took all of them working together to finish this quest and save the day.
I won’t give any spoilers away, but there are events that happen toward the end and a meeting with a character believed to be lost, that has me excited for at least two more books in this series. If that’s the case, sign me up. I’m ready.
Final grade- B
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