Medium – Audiobook
About the Book – The sequel to ‘The Cruel Prince’, and set a few months after, Jude is now the chief advisor to High King Carden – the cruel prince of the previous novel. She has Carden under an enchantment, where he has to follow her orders for a year and a day, effectively making her the Queen of the Faerie Realm. Jude has placed Carden on the throne to protect it for her little brother Oak, who is currently growing up in the Mortal Realm in order to protect him from the intrigues of the court and the machinations of Jude’s adoptive father, General Madoc. Jude knows her time as Carden’s master is running out, and the Undersea Realm is itching for war. Worse, Jude finds her feelings towards Carden changing into a deeper attraction – which will not only destabilise her plan, but put her, and her friends in danger.
My Rating – 2.5/5
My Thoughts – The first of the books in this series, I did quite enjoy. I thought the world-building, the characters and the plot were interesting and kept me intrigued, and I liked the way the author presented the world of Faerie as a not quite lovely, not quite safe, fairy-tale world. This book, the second in the series, I got a bit bored by. I think the first reason for finding it a bit tedious was the lack of development for the characters. Taryn is still a bit of a wimp, Carden is still not the nicest of people (although he does grow on you a bit) and Jude is still a character I can’t say I have much sympathy with. Vivi, my favourite character from the last book has even turned unlikable, dragging her poor mortal girlfriend into the fairy world and then enchanting her when she has a horrid experience.
I get why the author has created characters who are flawed, and I do prefer books where the main characters do have some less desirable features, but I do believe that to enjoy a book, you have to have sympathy with at least one character in the story. I can’t say, in this particular instalment, I really liked any of the main characters, or was particularly interested in them ‘winning’. There is one more book left in the series, and I am considering having a read of it for my own curiosity, but honestly? It will probably be one of those audiobooks that I have on in the background, rather than really getting immersed in the story.
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