Book Review: A Queen Comes to Power (An Heir Comes to Rise, #2) by Jennifer Peñaranda
From the moment I stumbled across A Queen Comes to Power, the sequel to Jennifer Peñaranda’s An Heir Comes to Rise, I felt a spark of intrigue. The promise of a new fantasy world filled with intrigue, magic, and a powerful heroine lured me in, especially given the glowing reviews. I approached the first book with excitement, expecting a fresh take on familiar tropes. But alas, while I finished this second installment in a day, it was less a race to the end and more a test of my endurance. Spoiler alert: my hopes were dashed, and my rating dropped from 2 stars to a disheartening 1.
Plot & Characters: Where Inspiration Meets Replication
Let’s start with the protagonist, Feythe, who, much like Celaena/Aelin from Throne of Glass, attempts to command our attention but instead evokes frustration. The constant whining from her perspective felt like an incessant drone, overshadowing any genuine character development. Feythe is promoted as a "spymaster" and "silent assassin," yet her actions—or lack thereof—are a disservice to such titles. Her supposed quest to find the ruin Aurialis craved felt cartoonishly contrived, relying on luck rather than agency. Simply put, after months of inactivity, the heroine’s ‘big discovery’ turned out to be the ultimate lazy plot device.
The supporting characters—Nik, Tauria, Jakon, and Marlowe—could have added depth, but their perspectives often felt like placeholders. Instead of driving the plot forward, they circled back to Feythe, drowning her in an ocean of unearned praise. I couldn’t help but think these characters were mere shadows of SJM’s beloved cast, making their potential disappointingly apparent.
Style & Pacing: Like Watching Paint Dry
As I turned pages in desperation for a more engaging narrative, I found myself grappling with pacing inconsistencies. Moments that should have sparked tension fell flat, and what could have been an intricate web of relationships instead resembled a tangled mess. The writing felt like a shadow of its aspirational source; every chapter seemed to string along familiar themes without the heart or nuance that make a story emotionally resonant.
In our journey through the pages, it was easy to spot the echoes of Throne of Glass—too easy, perhaps. The fine line between homage and outright imitation blurred, leaving me exasperated rather than enchanted. If I wanted to revisit Celaena’s world, I’d simply reread SJM’s work.
Final Thoughts: Digging for Gold in Dross
In conclusion, while there may be readers looking for a light fantasy read with some familiar tropes, I cannot wholeheartedly recommend A Queen Comes to Power. Despite its ambitions, the story falters in both originality and execution. If Peñaranda is indeed aiming for something akin to Sarah J. Maas’s narratives, she is squarely missing the mark.
Perhaps I will give the next book a chance—curiosity might wrestle with disappointment again—but for now, I’m left feeling as though I’ve wasted my time on what could have been a truly engaging story. Ultimately, if you want a tale of a powerful heroine with depth, charm, and intrigue, do yourself a favor and revisit Throne of Glass. In my humble opinion, that’s where the magic truly lies.
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