Thorn Queen (Dark Swan, Book 2) [Paperback]

Richelle Mead (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 1, 2009

Eugenie Markham is a shaman for hire, paid to bind and banish creatures from the Otherworld. But after her last battle, she s also become queen of the Thorn Land. It s hardly an envious life, not with her kingdom in tatters, her love life in chaos, and Eugenie eager to avoid the prophecy about her firstborn destroying mankind. And now young girls are disappearing from the Otherworld, and no one--except Eugenie--seems willing to find out why.

Eugenie has spilled plenty of fey blood in her time, but this enemy is shrewd, subtle, and nursing a very personal grudge. And the men in her life aren t making things any easier. Her boyfriend Kiyo is preoccupied with his pregnant ex, and sexy fey king Dorian always poses a dangerous distraction. With or without their help, Eugenie must venture deep into the Otherworld and trust in an unpredictable power she can barely control. Reluctant queen or not, Eugenie has sworn to do her duty--even if it means facing the darkest--and deadliest--side of her nature...

Praise for Richelle Mead s Storm Born. . .

"My kind of book--great characters, dark worlds, and just the right touch of humor.
A great read." --Patricia Briggs, New York Times Bestselling Author

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Richelle Mead has an MA in Comparative Religion and a passion for all things wacky and humorous. She currently lives in Seattle and rarely gets up before noon. Late-night musings and updates about her next novel can be found at: www.richellemead.com. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Zebra Books (Mass Market); Original edition (August 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1420100971
• ISBN-13: 978-1420100976
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (85 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #545,818 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Richelle Mead is an international bestselling author of fantasy books for both adults and teens. Her Georgina Kincaid series follows a reluctant succubus, while her Dark Swan series features a shamanic mercenary caught up in fairy affairs. Over on the young adult side, Richelle writes the much-acclaimed Vampire Academy series and its spin-off, Bloodlines, about a secret society keeping the vampire world hidden from humans.

Richelle's books have been on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists and received honors from the American Library Association. Her books have been translated into over two dozen languages, as well as transformed into graphic novels. A lifelong reader, Richelle loves mythology and wacky humor. When not writing, she can be found spending time with her family, buying dresses, and watching bad reality TV. More at: www.richellemead.com

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#21 in Books > Teens

#21 in Books > Teens

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

107 of 118 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars More Good than Bad Here, But No Greatness... July 31, 2009

By Tracy TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I don't think I'm going to enjoy writing this review very much, because I'm sort of torn about how I feel about the book. I really enjoyed Storm Born and was looking forward with much anticipation to Thorn Queen but I'm left feeling a bit disappointed. I want to preface my review by explaining that I think Richelle Mead is a good author and a solid story teller (no, they aren't the same thing). I find her books to have depth in both plot and characters (she's especially gifted with secondary and ancillary characters) and of the two series I've read, this one and the Georgia Kincaid series, they are generally a nice way to spend a few dollars and a few hours.

And actually, that's sort of the problem. It's ONLY a NICE way to spend them.

Technically, Mead's good. She delivers. But where Storm Born was an exciting premiere, Thorn Queen was more similar in - well - in emotional aftertaste to the Kincaid series than I would like.

I stopped reading that series after two books because there just never seemed to be enough happening that WASN'T Georgia angsting over her life as a succubus or her relationship with her boyfriend. Solid enough stories without anything truly exciting or motivating me to continue. Every time I finished one of those books I was left feeling so ambivalent that it didn't seem worth continuing.

Storm Born was a nice change. I enjoyed Eugenie Markham (except for that god-awful name - seriously - EUGENIE?) and appreciated her dilemmas as they kept piling up. The only thing I didn't like about Storm Born was her relationship with Kiyo, and it kept it from being a five star book for me. I had hope that Mead would give us a series of excitement and anticipation.

Then I read Thorn Queen.

It's NOT a bad book. In fact, like with all the Mead books I've read, it's enjoyable while going through it. For some reason, it's when I put Mead's books down and really THINK about what I read that I start having problems. I don't know why. Similar to the Kincaid series, I was left feeling like most of this book had more to do with what was going on AROUND the central plot than it had to do with the plot itself - and the central plot itself just wasn't that interesting. It was a great premise - something's stealing gentry in the Thorn Queen's domain and while Eugenie struggles with her duality of self and emotion, she's got to figure out what and stop it while she also keeps the land alive, her people fed, and her humanity guarded.

Yeah. GREAT premise. Not so great execution.

It's not as action packed as the first. It's not as tense as the first. It's not as well-paced as the first. AND it's still got Kiyo, who I went from mildly disliking to actively detesting in this book. And Eugenie lost a lot of her charm for me too.

I'm just not sure how to sustain belief in the strength of a main character who has a smothering and overprotective lover who lacks any comprehension of her core self. A lover who keeps trying to guide her away from the inevitable. A lover who spends almost all his time with his pregnant ex - without ever giving Eugenie a reason why that relationship is history, or how ancient it is, now that I think about it - and it sure as hell wasn't THAT ancient if the fantabulous Queen Maiwenn was so early along in the pregnancy that she wasn't even showing at first. Then when she does start showing, Kiyo expects Eugenie to make nice with Maiwenn and her impending kit. After lying to Eugenie about it from the beginning. Uh. Yeah.

I'm understanding and all, but sheesh, if Eugenie bent herself any more for this guy, you could salt her and sell her at ball parks.

Not to mention that as far as whirlwind romances go, the one between Eugenie and Kiyo sucks. They couldn't be more incompatible. Unfortunately, the development of that relationship in Thorn Queen and the resolution that followed was neither interesting, healthy, nor adult. Unfortunately, it also didn't feel like that solid of a resolution because Eugenie is the QUEEN alright - but it's of emotional indecision.

That being said - I love Dorian. Love him. He's SO deliciously self serving yet devoted. So layered. You know exactly where you stand with Dorian, because he'll tell you - whether you want him to or not. He's FILLED with his own agenda, and yet...

*Small Spoiler*
...when he tells Eugenie that he wouldn't care if she rules the Otherworld or goes back to just exorcising spirits, he's never letting what happened to her happen again, I just smiled.

*End Spoiler*

Here's a guy who loves her, supports her, is interested in helping her, and regardless of her choice in the baby department, still wants to be with her. Not to mention he's an adult that understands that life is never black and white. Black and white is for children. Life is all about managing the gray areas as best you can until you die.

Um. Yeah. Run in the other direction, Eugenie, he's BAD for you!! Just...send him MY way.

*Rolls her eyes*

I'd love, though, if just once Eugenie - when facing a plethora of smothering protectors and erstwhile defenders - would just look at them and say, "Thanks guys, I appreciate it and all, but I can kick my own asses. Fight beside me. Watch my back while I watch yours. Help me all you want and I'll do the same for you, but the only PROTECTION I need is some Coppertone SPF70."

Maybe Eugenie will get there someday.

That day was not today.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars When Is The Next Book Please? July 28, 2009

By Dianne E. Socci-Tetro TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Storm born was the wonderful series debut by Richelle mead and opened our eyes to the possibilities of Otherworlds and gave us the wonderful protagonist of Eugenie Markham, a shamanic mercenary with Faerie blood. We were also introduced to Dorian the King with an agenda and Kiyo the shapeshifting veterinarian with a secret.

Now with Thorn Queen Eugenie is seeing the full and sometimes horrific extent of her powers and she is starting to loose her fear of them, and is learning to gain control. We are again introduced to many wonderful secondary and tertiary characters, the main characters and secondaries from the first book are fleshed out even more and the writing is once again nearly flawless and the plot is so excellent that it's a sure thing that you are going to start reading this book and never want it to end.

I will warn you there is a lot of adult content though not nearly as much as some other authors use when writing about the Fey or the Shining ones and there is a rather long but important rape scene. So those who many not be able to handle these types of things may want to stay away from this novel. Although I do have to say both the sex and the rape are handled quite well. The sex actually does move the plot along and the rape was quite necessary to the furthering story line.

For those of you who are familiar with the work of Laurell K Hamilton, specifically the Anita Blake series; I'd like to point out that I think all three of the main characters here remind me a lot of Jean-Claude, Richard and Anita. But not nearly so angsty and annoying.

I cannot wait for the next book in this series to hit the stand.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Eugenie Markham has No Clue What She Wants July 30, 2010

By Judah

Format:Paperback

This novel contains explicit scenes, not for kids.

I enjoyed the opening short story about a teenage girl's ghost exorcism more than the rest of the entire book. Mead is really talented in writing interesting paranormal briefs, and if she published an anthology of short stories, I'd buy it without hesitation.

Thorn Queen, the main novel, has outstanding world building and good setting descriptions. Unfortunately, it revolves around Eugenie Markham, an impulsive and unlikeable main character who doesn't make smart or good decisions. This lack of sense is why I can't give four stars, despite how much every part of the novel that isn't the main plot impressed me. Honestly, if not for the main character's stupidity, this series would be in the top tier of urban fantasy. The descriptions and supporting cast are awesome.

Eugenie Markham gained the responsibilities as the Thorn Queen in book one, and in book two she totally botches everything. Despite commanding a kingdom of magic users and elves, she has to go and take care of problems *personally.* Even when it's really stupid to rush in with spells blazing because she doesn't have information or a plan. On the romance side, she *thinks* she is with Kiyo, though he obviously cares about his child with another woman much more than her. Dorian is also there, and that matters. Personally I found the romance side of Thorn Queen to be a trainwreck, because Eugenie Markham is stupid.

Overall a great book combined with a main character incapable of deciding what she wants ends in triple stars of 'meh', but I'm invested in the series and will read number three.