The Cursed Queen

November 1, 2016
A warrior receives dangerous magic that she can't control in this companion to The Impostor Queen (2016).Although she arrived in her tribe as a raiding prize when she was a child and doesn't know her roots, Ansa's heart is fully Krigere. The Krigere plunder as a way of life, and Ansa works eagerly to earn the scars on the arm that denote kill tallies. But during a battle that decimates her tribe, the Kupari witch queen curses Ansa, filling her with fire and ice that pour through her body and flare out into the world. Now, to her horror, Ansa's killing accidentally. She flames; she freezes; she tries desperately (and in vain) to repress and hide these uncontrollable powers. Textual richness and urgency come from a single fact unknown to Ansa, known only to readers of the earlier book: Ansa's the rightful queen of Kupari, meant to protect that land with her fire and ice. During an overland journey and time spent in a Krigere-occupied city, there are twists, multiple deceits, and confusing loyalties. Thyra, the Krigere chieftain since her father was killed, is Ansa's beloved, but what are Thyra's motivations? Bloody slaughter and Ansa's struggle to wield and withstand frozen cold and burning flame are evoked with equal vividness. All major characters are white except one, who's brown-skinned; the text repeatedly and unfortunately describes that character's curly, black hair as "wild," and her characterization occasionally treads close to stereotype. Exciting, with more excitement ahead. (Fantasy. 12-16)

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December 1, 2016

Gr 8 Up-Unfolding in tandem with The Impostor Queen, Fine's latest novel shifts to the perspective of the Krigere, a fierce people who thrive on raiding, plundering, and killing. Ansa was captured during a Krigere raid as a little girl, but she has earned her place within the group as a formidable warrior. Ansa's world is turned upside down, however, after the Krigere attempt a raid by sea on the Kupari. The Kupari queen manipulates the weather and the sea with incredible force, decimating the Krigere longships. Few survive, and Ansa soon realizes that her close encounter with the Kupari queen has somehow cursed her. Ansa now wields powers of fire and ice, but she cannot control them, and they threaten her place among the Krigere. A high-stakes power struggle is also brewing. This story connects to the preceding one in eye-opening ways, but it can stand alone, too. Ansa grapples convincingly with who she really is and what she believes, and, refreshingly, her romantic lesbian relationship with crush Thyra is fully developed. Compared to the intricately ritualistic world of the Kupari depicted in The Impostor Queen, the Krigere culture is far more straightforward and accessible to new readers. The narrative is highly readable, the suspense is authentic, and the characters will keep teens guessing about their motivations until the very end. VERDICT A strong purchase. Readers will eagerly await more from this realm.-Sara White, Seminole County Public Library, Casselberry, FL

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