{Early Review} This Sequel Did the Unthinkable

Title: The Mirror King
Author: Jodi Meadows
Series: The Orphan Queen, book #2 in a two-book series
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: April 5, 2016
Source: received for review from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Wilhelmina has a hundred enemies.

HER FRIENDS HAVE TURNED. After her identity is revealed during the Inundation, Princess Wilhelmina is kept prisoner by the Indigo Kingdom, with the Ospreys lost somewhere in the devastated city. When the Ospreys’ leader emerges at the worst possible moment, leaving Wil’s biggest ally on his deathbed, she must become Black Knife to set things right.

HER MAGIC IS UNCONTROLLABLE. Wil’s power is to animate, not to give true life, but in the wraithland she commanded a cloud of wraith mist to save herself, and later ordered it solid. Now there is a living boy made of wraith—destructive and deadly, and willing to do anything for her.

HER HEART IS TORN. Though she’s ready for her crown, declaring herself queen means war. Caught between what she wants and what is right, Wilhelmina realizes the throne might not even matter. Everyone thought the wraith was years off, but already it’s destroying Indigo Kingdom villages. If she can’t protect both kingdoms, soon there won’t be a land to rule.

In this stunning conclusion to THE ORPHAN QUEEN, Jodi Meadows follows Wilhelmina’s breathtaking and brave journey from orphaned criminal on the streets to magic-wielding queen.

I didn't mean to read this book so early -- okay, okay, I totally did -- but I couldn't help myself! I can't be blamed for how amazing the first book was and how I longed not to have to wait for the sequel. And just a word of warning, but this is going to read like less of a review and more like me coming off my fangirl high. =)

When I started this book, I thought, "No way can she finish this story in two books. NO WAY." And then when I got to about 85%, I just knew there had to be another book in the works. I mean, to tie up all the loose threads with only that much of the book left? I just didn't think it was possible. But Jodi Meadows continues to defy the limits of what is possible and what is not with this series and especially with this book.

This sequel/finale was incredible. Sometimes, I find that my ability to perceive the outcome of a story is the bane of my existence because it makes some books SO predictable. I didn't have to worry about that at all with The Mirror King. Meadows just trampled my expectations and any preconceived notions I had. This was literally me for most of the book:

For starters, because of the title, for some reason I got it into my head that it would be more focused on Tobiah and his kingdom. And then when I realized it wasn't, the separation anxiety set in. You know...when two characters you adore together end up separated for a big chunk of the book and you have to suffer through it. This usually seems to happen in the second book of a trilogy and then when the couple reunites in the final book, things are...awkward between them. Well, this is a duology so we get to skip the whole middle book -- hallelujah! -- but Wil and Tobiah do have their own kingdoms to run now, so Wil's departure was always inevitable. But I hated the way they parted.

In fantasy novels, I've come to learn that authors love to kill your darlings. And they rarely feel any remorse about it. So, I should have expected all of the death and violence in The Mirror King, especially with that maniacal Patrick on the loose, but it still came as a shock to me. Every. Time. Obviously some deaths were harder to accept than others. I ran the full gamut of emotions with this novel, especially because I never knew what was coming or who might bite it next.

Here's the thing. I like trilogies. But I loathe when the story could be told in fewer books and the narrative is drawn out to make it stretch a full three books. Meadows made every page of this duology count. I never wanted for action or swoons or even villainy. It's the ending to the story I didn't even know I wanted when I got to that heart-breaking cliffhanger in The Orphan Queen. This sequel/finale was far better than I could have ever hoped for and I already can't wait to re-read it!

GIF it to me straight:

About the Author:

Jodi Meadows lives and writes in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, with her husband, a Kippy*, and an alarming number of ferrets. She is a confessed book addict, and has wanted to be a writer ever since she decided against becoming an astronaut. She is the author of the INCARNATE Trilogy and the ORPHAN QUEEN Duology (HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen), and a coauthor of the forthcoming MY LADY JANE (HarperTeen).

*A Kippy is a cat.

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