The Hundredth Queen by Emily R. King
Synopsis
As an orphan ward of the Sisterhood, eighteen-year-old Kalinda is destined for nothing more than a life of seclusion and prayer. Plagued by fevers, she’s an unlikely candidate for even a servant’s position, let alone a courtesan or wife. Her sole dream is to continue living in peace in the Sisterhood’s mountain temple.
But a visit from the tyrant Rajah Tarek disrupts Kalinda’s life. Within hours, she is ripped from the comfort of her home, set on a desert trek, and ordered to fight for her place among the rajah’s ninety-nine wives and numerous courtesans. Her only solace comes in the company of her guard, the stoic but kind Captain Deven Naik. Faced with the danger of a tournament to the death—and her growing affection for Deven—Kalinda has only one hope for escape, and it lies in an arcane, forbidden power buried within her.
My Review
I am so happy I stumbled across this book. I absolutely loved it and read it in just over a day. The title and cover drew me in and then when I read the synopsis I just couldn't wait to delve into this tale. The Hundredth Queen sucked me in, the characters, the story line and the uniqueness of this tale made it a pleasure to read.
The plot was fast paced and very enjoyable, we follow Kalinda as she is plucked from the temple where she was raised, picked to fight for her right to be named the Hundredth Queen. She has been claimed, most think it is an honour, like for Natesa who has been picked as one of the Rajah's many courtesan and finally free from the Sisterhood but for Kalinda it is far from the life she wished for. Plagued by fevers her whole life Kalinda barely has the skill to defend herself, let alone fight in a tournament against those who want to earn their place as one of Rajah's wives.
There are several important elements to this tale, one being the relationship between Kalinda and Deven, yes it was a little insta-love but that didn't spoil the story for me. The connection between them heightens the story, giving it the romance we all know and love in YA stories. But to me the relationship between Kalinda and Jaya is as meaningful, if not more so. Everyone needs a bestfriend and these two have a beautiful relationship, together they bring out the courage in one another and the resolve to defeat the odds for one another and for what is right.
Another important element to this story involves the Bhuta, people with the powers of the elements. This is something that has been done so many times in the YA world but Emily R. King adds her own twist and I loved it. They appear early in the story and as we venture deeper into this world and story we begin to learn about the Bhuta, there motives and a war that has been fought for years.
Throughout this story Kalinda uncovers both personal and political secrets while in the Turquoise Palace in Vanhi, all the while preparing for the inevitable battle that she must fight to earn her place as the Rajah's hundredth wife. But with unearthed secrets and the Bhuta readying to take back control at any cost, will Kalinda's courage be enough?
Finally, I have to add that I love that Emily R. King has written this book featuring multiple strong female characters, showing compassion and strength but also brushing on the ugly side of jealousy and the lengths people will go-to to win but also what people will do for the one's they love.
Overall the author really takes you on a journey, the heroine is likeable, sensible and did not frustrate me with any whining nor did she have a childish mentality. It felt like a very original tale, with action, love, loss and a touch of magic.
The Hundredth Queen is a story of a young woman's courage, compassion and her defiance, even in the face of death. I highly recommend this story, the first in a series.
We can look forward to following Kalinda's adventure in the next instalment release date expected for September 2017...
In the second book in The Hundredth Queen Series, Emily R. King once again follows a young warrior queen’s rise to meet her destiny in a richly imagined world of sorcery and forbidden powers. Though the tyrant rajah she was forced to marry is dead, Kalinda’s troubles are far from over. A warlord has invaded the imperial city, and now she’s in exile. But she isn’t alone. Kalinda has the allegiance of Captain Deven Naik, her guard and beloved, imprisoned for treason and stripped of command. With the empire at war, their best hope is to find Prince Ashwin, the rajah’s son, who has promised Deven’s freedom on one condition: that Kalinda will fight and defeat three formidable opponents. But as Kalinda’s tournament strengths are once again challenged, so too is her relationship with Deven. While Deven fears her powers, Ashwin reveres them—as well as the courageous woman who wields them. Kalinda comes to regard Ashwin as the only man who can repair a warring world and finds herself torn between her allegiance to Deven and a newly found respect for the young prince. With both the responsibility to protect her people and the fate of those she loves weighing heavily upon her, Kalinda is forced again to compete. She must test the limits of her fire powers and her hard-won wisdom. But will that be enough to unite the empire without sacrificing all she holds dear?
Thank you for taking the time to read A Tale or Two Reviews. I hope if you read this story you enjoy it as much as I did.
Jasmine