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The Queen of All that Dies
(The Fallen World – Book 1)
by Laura Thalassa
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Dark, Dystopian, Series Complete
Available on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited
Down & Dirty
Concepts of Good and Evil feature strongly in this intricate mosaic of both human nature and power. It’s dark, seductive and strangely challenging. Free on Kindle Unlimited.
What is it about?
(Blurb from GoodReads)
In the future, the world is at war.
For the last decade, King Lazuli of the Eastern Empire has systematically taken over the world. No one knows much about him other than a series of impossible facts: he cannot die, he has not aged since the conflict began, and he wants to rule the world.
All Serenity Freeman has known is bloodshed. War has taken away her mother, her home, her safety. As the future emissary of the Western United Nations, the last autonomous region of the globe, she is responsible for forging alliances where she can.
Surrender is on the horizon. The king can taste it; Serenity feels it deep within her bones. There is no other option. Now the two must come face to face. For Serenity, that means confronting the man who’s taken everything from her. For the king, it means meeting the one woman he can’t conquer. But when they meet, something happens. Cruelty finds redemption.
Only in war, everything comes with a price. Especially love.
Thoughts on The Queen of All that Dies
There is no anti-hero in this narrative, nor is there the feeling of a coming redemption. Rather, there is a dark undertone that weaves through these pages, challenging the fundamental aspects of right and wrong, good and evil, and even what forgiveness can bring. It makes you think, worry and sometimes shudder. The concept that Love Conquers All is taunted here, questioned and even derided. In the end, I am not sure what to think or feel, and that is probably what the author intended.
Serenity is a strong protagonist just trying to survive in a world ravaged by war and greed…. and when she comes face to face with the architect of that scourge unintentional sparks fly and far too many questions are raised. Life has shaken Serenity, but this promises to destroy her…. and its devastating.
Well written and soulful, even with a few editing errors, this novel hit me upside the heart and left me confused. I don’t WANT to root for the villain here, it’s not that kind of story. But there is something almost addictive to the desire, and that, in turn, makes me question everything about this.
Favorite Lines
No one tells you that in war, sometimes the enemy is your neighbor. (9%)
In war, beauty is a curse—it catches your enemies’ attention, and you don’t want that. (10%)
What you choose to do with all that anger is your business. But you can’t control the world; someone will always be there to wrong you. It’s your choice to let it go. Only you can decide the woman you want to be. (90%)
Pros:
- Story flows well.
- The narrative feels almost bewitching.
- The moral conundrum Serenity faces is almost visceral.
- Not quite PNR, but a touch Sci-Fi on top of the Dystopian theme.
- There is a brutal honesty in greed.
Cons:
- Typos and editing errors. Not enough to detract from the story, but enough to notice.
- The choices… the reasons… its painful.
Perspective
First Person, Limited Multiple POV
Ending Type
Cliffhanger
Rating
Mature, Adult
Romantic Dynamic
M/F
Character Age Range
19+
My Final Verdict on The Queen of All that Dies
Dark, twisted and inventive, this novel knits an engrossing tale that plays fast and loose with the concepts of Good and Evil. Shades of Gray, right and wrong… its intriguing, murky and free on Kindle Unlimited.
Published January 23rd, 2015
327 Pages
If you enjoyed this review The Queen of All that Dies, please consider checking out a few of my other articles.
- The Missing Wolf by G. Bailey – A Book Review
- Stolen Song by Autumn Reed – A Book Review
- For the Love of Justice by Debbie Cassidy – A Book Review
Your Turn
What are you reading today? Have you read this series yet? How about other books written by Laura Thalassa? Have a favorite? Leave a comment, I would love to talk!
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