Romantasy Melody
Book Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Series: The Queens of Éire (Book 2)
Genre: Adult Historical Fantasy Romance
Spice: Medium
Summary:
Princess Riona is no stranger to death. One by one, everyone she loved as a child – her father, her brothers, her best friend – were stolen away by death. Slowly, Riona comes to the realization that Death wants her, but for what purpose she doesn’t know. Wild Riona, more interested in traversing the mysterious woods than sitting in lessons, resists the pull of Death, but only just. As the souls around her continue to be taken and she has to assume the responsibilities of running the Vale of Inagh, Riona gravitates to the shy, awkward son of a soldier, Conor, for comfort.
A few years later, when her young daughter becomes ill with an incurable blood disease, Queen Riona knows what she must do. Leaving her daughter, Conor, and castle behind, Riona finally gives into the siren call of Death. The enigmatic master of death agrees not to take her daughter’s soul as long as Riona agrees to serve him. Separated from her beloved daughter in the frightening in-between where Death and his dread creatures reside, Riona soon finds that her bargain with Death isn’t just about her or her daughter – it could spell doom for all of Éire.
Reaction:
Unseen is the second book in the Queens of Éire series by Christy Healy, and picks up with Rozlyn and Jamie’s granddaughter, Riona. It is a retelling of the Irish fable ‘The Snow, The Crow, and the Blood’. Like the first book in the series, the narrative is not presented in chronological order, instead alternating between different storylines and perspectives. While this second book could be read as a standalone, I think that knowing who Daideo & Mamó were gives the reader an automatic connection to Riona. The first book also provides more background regarding her bloodline, which is important to the plot in this book.
I did not connect with this book as well as I did the first in the series. I felt that Riona’s motivation wasn’t clear at times, and that prevented me from fully immersing myself in the story. And since I wasn’t connecting with the FMC, the first half of the book that was mostly from her point of view was hard for me to get through at times.
I connected much more with Conor’s character. As his point of view became more prevalent in the second half of the book, I was able to appreciate the story more. Even Riona’s character just made more sense when you saw her from Conor’s point of view because he had such strong feelings – both positive and negative – towards her, while she could never be totally sure about her feelings for him. The romance between them reads like a second chance romance, and while at times sweet and others tension-filled, it wasn’t the emotional focus of the novel.
Instead, this book focuses heavily on the theme of motherhood. The reader is introduced to four generations of mothers in the same family, each with a different version of motherhood. Riona’s version, and the inciting action for the plot, is her need to sacrifice herself for her daughter.
There are parts of the book that are exciting with great fantasy action, tension, and vividly integrated settings and creatures. Then there were other parts that I didn’t feel were as strong. But I did especially enjoy the inclusion of Fiadh, the cat-like monster, and the callback to the first book when Riona gets assistance from the Puka.
Overall, I think this was a solid book. The book did grow on me and improve as I read more and ultimately held my attention and elicited an emotional reaction, especially towards the end. I enjoyed the retelling elements and the fantastical creatures and appreciated the motherly love Riona had for her daughter. That focus was a little different than what I typically read, and it was a nice change of pace. While it was not as strong as the first book in the series in my opinion, I’ll definitely be looking out for the next book in the series.
I received this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway. Thanks to the publisher and the author for sponsoring a giveaway.
What I enjoyed:
· There is some overlap in fantasy creatures from the first book, but also a whole host of new ones. There’s also a presentation of these horrendous creatures that paints them as tragic in a way that emphasizes the difference between scary and malicious. Fiadh, the panther-like monster that becomes Riona’s companion is a great example of this, and I loved her inclusion in the book.
· I liked the passages of the ‘The Snow, The Crow, and the Blood’ fable between the chapters that slowly reveals how that original story plays out. I think that was better than, for example, having the entire passage at the beginning of the novel.
· Riona’s love for her daughter, and her yearning for her when she is serving Death, was beautiful and heart-wrenching at the same time. It was one of the times in the novel I fully understood Riona.
What I didn't enjoy:
· I did not like that Riona called Conor “Cabbage”. I know it was ultimately affectionate once they were older, but I would never call someone a cabbage, especially someone I cared about. Any time she used this nickname the book lost me a little bit.
