Return of the Vengeful Queen

Fantastic conclusion! Return of the Vengeful Queen by C.J. Redwine concludes the story that started in Rise of the Vicious Princess. Princess, and soon-to-be Queen, Charis Willowthorn has escaped the hands of the Rakuuna with 62 others from her kingdom. The refugees have set a heading for Solvang, a neighboring kingdom known for their libraries. Charis hopes to find shelter for those with her, an ally to fight the Rakuuna, and knowledge of how to stop them. However, her plans are cut short when she learns there is a bounty on her head. With a ragtag group she only half trusts, Charis sets out on an adventure to save her kingdom and the boy who broke her heart.

Charis is not the same girl we met in book one. She’s heartbroken at the loss she has suffered. However, she’s been taught to hide those feelings, so she erects a figurative steel wall around herself to focus on the matters at hand. Her cousins try to break that wall by lending their support, but all she can truly think of is that she needs to keep them safe. Charis has every intention of saving her kingdom but believes she will not survive it so they will be the heirs.

Tal’s betrayal cut deep leaving scars that won’t easily heal. Charis is angry and hurt, but also worried for the prince’s life. He is at the hands of the Rakuuna with no word that they have used him as a bargaining chip. She wants to hate him but instead hates herself for trusting and loving him. Redwine sets up their romance in a doomed nature, however I love how she weaves their story. It is done believable and will make you feel all the feels.

While I felt like book one was a faster-paced plot, this one wasn’t. It moved much slower, most likely because of the grief Charis was feeling. However, at the midway point, the pace picks up and doesn’t slow til the end. The political intrigue and the terrifying Rakuuna kept me interested right up to the end. I found myself like Charis wondering why the Rakuuna, a kingdom who has not been seen in years, suddenly attacked. The mystery behind it drives much of the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed Return of the Vengeful Queen. Charis is the star of the story, and I loved seeing her character grow into her role as Queen. The romance element is one of my favorite tropes when done right, and Redwine far exceeded my expectations of it. If you are a fan of YA fantasy, I highly recommend this one.

Audiobook Note: I actually received a finished hardcover copy from the publisher a few weeks before release. However, due to my physical limitations at the time, I purchased an audiobook copy the day of release. I read about half of this one and listened to the last half. Lauren Ezzo is masterful. I loved her narration. She helped me be fully immersed in the story. I listened at my normal speed of 2x.

Charis is left with vengeance in her heart as she seeks allies and a way to kill the monstrous Rakunna who invaded her kingdom and killed her parents. Reeling from the deaths of loved ones and the betrayal of Tal who turns out to be a Montevallian Prince sent to be a spy, she learns to say she is fine even though she is close to breaking.
I like that we start from a high action sequence and the pace never slows down from there. Her cousin, Holland, is a bigger part of the story and brings a bit of levity and loyalty to Charis' life. She despises her guard, Reuban, in the first book, but his loyalty and strength prove invaluable as she seeks to reclaim her kingdom.
The forced proximity between Tal and Charis was just what we needed to repair the damage his revelations created. Their relationship was everything we needed. I was nervous at the end that something would happen to prevent them from their happily ever after but the ending was perfection!
The only thing I wanted more of was a longer story to enjoy these characters a bit longer. However, the pace made it hard to put down, the people who needed to be destroyed were, and the romance was spot on. Overall, another delightful C.J. Redwine book is ready to join my collection with her previous books.

Return of the Vengeful Queen is the heart-pounding conclusion of the Rise of Vicious Princess duology by C.J. Redwine. It is a gripping adventure that holds back no punches as our brave princess does everything she can to fight for her kingdom being torn apart by the monstrous rakuaan. What is driving these monsters will come as quite a shock; the backstabbing in the pages is appalling and shocking; the princess's bravery as she puts herself into the clutches of these monsters is so brave. I was so engrossed in this book that I read it all in one day. I could not stop turning the pages, hoping against hope that good would win out and all would end without more loss of life. Though we only get two books, I would have loved to read more stories set in this world—an excellent ending to a thrilling tale.