The Shadow Queen (Ravenspire, 1) - Softcover

Redwine, C. J.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0062360256 ISBN 13: 9780062360250

Publisher: Balzer + Bray, 2016

Synopsis

A New York Times bestselling dark epic fantasy inspired by the tale of Snow White, from C. J. Redwine, the author of the Defiance series. This breathtakingly romantic, action-packed fantasy is perfect for fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses and Cinder.   

Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen.

In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic of his own—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman—and bring her Lorelai’s heart.

But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose.

About this title

About the Author:

C.J. Redwine is a New York Times bestselling author of YA fantasy novels, including the Ravenspire series of fairytale retellings and the Defiance trilogy. She’s still waiting for her letter from Hogwarts. Currently, she lives in Nashville with her husband, five children, three pets, and a wardrobe that stubbornly refuses to lead to Narnia, no matter how many times she tries. To learn more about C.J., visit her website at www.cjredwine.com.

From School Library Journal:

Gr 9 Up—An action-packed retelling of "Snow White" with elements of horror and romance. Princess Lorelei fled the Ravenspire castle nine years ago, when her stepmother Irina used dark magic to kill her father and enslave the court. Now the 17-year-old and her younger brother live in hiding, coming out only in disguise to raid royal food storehouses and feed her country's starving people. This princess is smart, a skilled fighter, and a powerful magic user herself, and she has a long-range plan: gain the people's favor and topple the usurper queen. In a parallel plot, teenage king Kol travels to Ravenspire to beg Irina to save nearby country Eldr from invading ogres. In return for her help, the wicked queen compels Kol to hunt down Lorelei and bring back her heart. As the teens' stories come together, the outcome affects both countries. There are some truly cinematic moments here: predatory vines with eyeless heads, Lorelei sprinting up the sides of buildings, and Irina imprisoning an elderly noblewoman inside a tree and forcing her to choke out poisoned apples hour after hour. Kol's Eldrian people can change into dragons, and this novel finally answers the question of where shape-shifters put their clothes while in animal form (dragon-size backpacks!). In a refreshing departure from the original, when Kol inevitably falls in love with Lorelei, it's for her strength and selflessness rather than her beauty. VERDICT Great fun, and a first purchase where dark fantasy or fairy tale retellings are popular.—Beth Wright Redford, Richmond Elementary School Library, VT

About this edition

• Publisher: Balzer + Bray
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0062360256
• ISBN 13: 9780062360250
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 416