Thorn Queen

I wanted to read Thorn Queen because I love Richelle Mead, as well as the first in this series. Eugenie is charismatic, and I love her passion and energy. She is now the queen of a kingdom in the other world since she defeated its king. She is totally inexperienced and didn't have much interest in it, but as the story goes on and she meets some of the subjects, she can't help but feel responsible and want to help.

She begins splitting her time between the worlds, and trying to figure out her new place in things. She is still with Kiyo, and I like them together, but they aren't without their issues. Kiyo of course is expecting a baby with one of the queens of the Fae world, Maiwenn. When he isn't doing that, or busy with his show more veterinarian job, Eugenie is balancing her shaman work with her obligations in the Thorn land.

Things get pretty complicated with known issues, and other new characters, ones that are still wanting to rape her, another who is in love with her and trying to win her hand, and having to deal with gentry girls going missing and coming back traumatized, and of course, her sister running around. Dorian is helping her be established as a queen and get her kingdom running by helping her to get staff in place, making trade negotiations, and sending someone to help her learn to work with air magic. There is still the sexual tension between the two, and I have to wonder like Eugenie does what his motivations are at times.

I love the funnies that Richelle writes in her books. It helps keep things from being too heavy, and I love her sense of humor. For example:
“I had a few other things on my mind. Like if it was going to rain every time I got aroused. That was not cool. I guessed I could handle it so long as it rained other times as well. I didn’t want the connection to be so obvious. Hey, it’s raining! The queen must have gotten laid. Ooh…is that hail? Must have been into some kinky shit today.”
But even with the humor and the steam, she doesn't shy away from the complexities of character. Eugenie had so many layers, and she had to deal with lots. She was torn between the worlds. Her and her stepdad Roland fight about how much she's been going to the Otherworld. It is also an argument between her and Kiyo, and they begin having issues that are bigger than him being the father to another woman's baby. Kiyo also encourages her to stay out of the politics and doesn't want her to keep learning and practicing magic. It's sad but inevitable with the way the story was going. Dorian has a play in it, and he has to have his moment to shine, and Richelle may even go with him rather than Kiyo.

Some of her inner monologue really sums up her character struggles and growth in this one.
I'd realized just before my capture that I loved both him and Kiyo, loved them just as my blood and soul were also split in two. The two halves of my nature would always war with each other.
The ending was good, and I liked the wrap up but the huge issues yet to be resolved, and Eugenie on a thin line balancing her control and desire for magic. I will definitely be continuing this series.

Bottom Line: Great second book. Funny, hot, and emotional. show less

Ok so I couldn't wait for the actual book to arrive so I downloaded the ebook. It was totally worth it.

Whereas Storm Born was about Eugenie discovering her heritage and inheriting two titles (one by birth and one by accident), three months later Thorn Queen sees her realising that no matter how much she doesn't want to be a gentry queen she is one and she needs to take responsibility for the land and it's people, half assed as she does it in this. When she sees that the people are starving because of the way the land has conformed to her vision of what she calls "home", the desert of Tuscan, she decides she needs to help them discover water and find ways of growing food but she doesn't want to get too involved because she still sees show more herself as human and not as a queen. Doing this is an odd experience for her as she's approached by the people with fear and awe due to her parentage and the way in which she killed her predecessor, who did not care a jot about the affairs of those beneath him.

Eugenie's world may be quite narrow in terms of the number of characters and their backgrounds but with characters that there are, are varied - though I would like more personal history on each of them, this is my only criticism.

In this, Kiyo's relationship with Maiwen strains his relationship with Eugenie as does his naivity that she can just ignore the people she's supposed to be ruling, the hard decisions that need to be made as a ruler and her raw unpredictable power. I predicted that he was dangerous for Eugenie but Thorn Queen really demonstrated the numerous reasons why he wasn't just a selfish idealist but an idiot as well.

Dorian is on the opposite end of the scale. He's a fellow ruler so he understands politics, the need to care for your people and the necessity for Eugenie to be trained in her magic so as not to become a danger to herself or others. He also understood that after her traumatic experience she would need space and time to recover. Despite his agenda, he truly cares for Eugenie and was willing to start a war to protect her honour and carries out vengeance on her behalf, whereas Kiyo just stood by and judged Eugenie for using her magic against someone who'd violated her, he never even considered killing the b*stard himself. As Eugenie states:

Kiyo had failed me. Dorian would not.

I applaud Richelle Mead for the way she protrays relationships between her characters, they are completely believable. I think Iron Crowned will see Eugenie fully embrace her new responsibilites as Thorn Queen and as Storm Queen as she prepares to go to war with the faithful Dorian at her side. show less

I liked this book more than the first in the series, Storm Born, simply because the complaints I had about the first book were answered to in this one. I thought that Dorian was by far a better match for Eugenie than Kiyo, and really, Kiyo just becomes a major wimp in this book. Even his ability in the bedroom is shown up by Eugenie's mere memories of Dorian - and that's just sad.
The second complaint I had in the first book is also answered for - but definitely not in a good way, as it was about how Richelle Mead wrote Eugenie's reactions to the multiple rape attempts made on her. This book took things much further and really drew an emotional reaction from me. I really hope that the next two books don't revisit this issue. Moving show more on.
Dorian is nearly perfect in every way in this book, answering to Eugenie's many sensitivities and internal struggles, as well as exacting justice when Kiyo was too cowardly to do the deed. Honestly, I'm at the point where if Dorian says to do it, Eugenie should do it. After all, I loved that Dorian tricked Eugenie into claiming Aeson's kingdom, as she genuinely cares about and wants to help her people just as much as she would want to in the human world.
Oh yes, and some of the other quirks of this plot were quite enjoyable, such as watching Eugenie gain greater access to her storm abilities, as well as her angsty half-sister Jasmine coming to her aid at the end. I look forward to reading the next installment, Iron Crowned. show less

Thorn Queen
3.5 Stars

Whether it is Eugenie trying to decide between Dorian and Kiyo, or Kiyo’s relationship with Maiwen or Dorian and Ysabel’s dysfunctional issues, the romance quintet (?) reads more like a bad soap opera than well-written urban fantasy.

Eugenie is a strong and resilient heroine despite her lack of common sense when it comes to men. She is also conflicted by her role as the Thorn Queen, but it is entertaining to see her changing her pre-conceptions about the Shining Ones, learning about her abilities and realizing her role in the Otherworld.

Speaking of Eugenie’s love interests, Dorian is as manipulative and machiavellian as always, but at least he is honest and forthright. He is also there for Eugenie when she needs show more him the most, which is more than can be said for Kiyo. Eugenie’s attraction to the Kitsune is completely incomprehensible. Yes, he’s a stud but he also lies when it suits him, is overly judgmental and is constantly shoving his relationship with Maiwen in Eugenie’s face.

The mystery subplot involving the disappearance of Gentry girls from the Otherworld is interesting but takes far too long to get going although the climax and resolution are exciting. The rape trope is also unnecessary. Surely Mead could have found a way to advance the story arc without resorting to undermining her heroine. At least, the descriptions are not too excessive and detailed - that would have been an immediate DNF for me.

Despite its problems, the Dark Swan series has potential and I’m interested enough in the new direction the story is going in to continue with it. show less

Eugenie found herself Queen of Thorn Land after killing it's last owner, she's no where near happy about it, but her sense of responsibility gets her to come back of Otherworld once in a while to make sure her land doesn't perish without her around. While travelling to visit Kiyo's pregnant ex, Eugenie discovers that her subjects are tortured by famine and aridity. But it's not the only extend of their problems; young girls have been disappearing for quite a while now. The Queen is gonna takes matters in her hands and do all she can to help her people, but it won't be easy task.

Her love life is no where near easy either. She's in a relationship with Kiyo but have an hard time making her mind around the fact that he is spending a lot of show more time with is pregnant ex (who wouldn't) and about to have a baby of his own, while she won't allow herself to have one scared to fulfill the prophecy. Dorian is still around, poking in her life and teasing her like he can so well! Nothing to ease matters!

Did I ever mention how I LOVE Richelle Mead's books? Well this is no exception! Storm Born was great but Thorn Queen is awesome! Eugenie is facing so many questions and moral issues it's a wonder she is still sane. Dealing with her sister, her lovers, her land, demons and humans problems, Eugenie got her plate full. But it's not gonna stop her and that's what I like about the girl; her insecurities are so real to. I was also really fond of Dorian in Storm Born and now I'm in love with the guy! He is just awesome.

If you haven't started this series yet, well run and go buy it! now! Beware that this isn't a young adult series and there are some pretty steamy sex scenes to provide you very neat images *winks* show less

Terrific second installment in the series. Ms. Mead skillfully develops Eugenie's character as she expands her magical abilities and deepens ties to her people and land in the Otherworld.

Thorn Queen is the second Urban Fantasy book of Dark Swan series by Richelle Mead. This is actually a reread since I've followed the series for years which have ended earlier in 2012. Eugenie Markham is one of those people who unfortunately have bad things happens to her on days when she think her day job is bad enough. From the first book, it started with Eugenie receiving an assignment to find a missing sister in the other alternate world where magical creatures live and occasionally leaks into our world. The book subsequently leads to the revelation that she is one of the magical dictator's progeny and one of those who could fulfill the prophecy of giving birth another magical tyrant. Good thing is, she never intended to have kids show more but it was until she found out that she have a sister.

The title of this book is centered around Eugenie's eventual succession of a country in the fairy world after she killed a king and usurped his power of the land. As the land followed the image of her home, it became a version of Nevada desert. By becoming a queen, she have to juggle her time and responsibility as a shaman in the human world and the politics in the faerie world. This also include trying to control her storm magic and the affection of two man, a japanese kitsune, Kiyo and King Dorian.

What made this book enjoyable to me was that it have more fantasy setting than modern environment like in the Succubus series which I hated completely. By drifting in between worlds, the magical elements in this book is more pronounced and the added noirish detective element would hook you up until you sink. I enjoyed the chemistry and conflicts between the characters, the added sensual heat in the midst of suspense and death was delicious.

I could understand why many have gripes about some of the characters including the main character and have problems with Richelle's consistently trying to not writing a book with predictable storylines, but I enjoyed the series thoroughly and it made me appreciate her as an adult writer than a young adult writer. There are certain ways a person could express as a writer and I think she balanced it well. show less