Review: The Mirror King

The Mirror King (The Orphan Queen #2)
by Jodi Meadows
YA Fantasy
Amazon  /  Goodreads

Plot Summary:

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.

Review:

The Mirror King takes up immediately where the first book left off.  Wil is immediately in a precarious position and is made to make reluctant decisions to save the people she cares about.  It's something that follows her throughout this novel, while she comes to terms to what it means to be a queen.

The journey is never easy, and it surprised me just how high the stakes became as the plot developed.  This is a fantasy that felt realistic because there were many terrible consequences and a deep sense of foreboding as the magic became more and more out of hand.  I loved how deeply captivating that made this story because I was so invested in the characters' plights.  It also made for some heart-rending twists and turns.  The Mirror King is all about difficult decisions and trying to do what's best for the people.

This book also features a romance that is so very touching in how much the two people care for each other, but in how so many obstacles lies in between their happiness.  The forbidden aspect to a romance always draws me in, and here it was exquisite.  Of course I can't talk about how it develops, but it was a very well-thought out part of this book and very believable.

I feel like there is much I can't discuss about this story because it is full of surprises, and the reader should discover them on his or her own.  If you loved the first book, the second book does not disappoint - it carries on with the adventure, the romance, and the suspense (oh my goodness, the suspense!) as well as being a believable and engaging fantasy read.  The Mirror King is a perfect end to the series.

(I received this book from the publisher or author for a fair and honest review.  I was not compensated for this review.)