The Queen Is Dead (The Immortal Empire #2)
by Kate Locke
Publication: 5th February 2013
Publisher: Orbit
Pages: 352
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Steampunk
Age Appropriate: Adult
Nothing lasts forever---and immortality isn't all its cracked up to be.
When her brother Val gets in over his head in an investigation of Half-Blood disappearances and goes missing himself, it's up to Xandra, newly crowned Goblin Queen, to get him back and bring the atrocities to light. Xandra must frequent the seediest parts of London, while also coping with what she is, the political factions vying for her favor, and the all too-close scrutiny of Queen Victoria, who wants her head. Add this to being a suspect in a murder investigation, a werewolf boyfriend with demands of his own, and a mother hell bent on destroying the monarchy, and Xandra barely knows which way is up. One thing she does know is that she's already lost one sibling, she's not about to lose another.
When her brother Val gets in over his head in an investigation of Half-Blood disappearances and goes missing himself, it's up to Xandra, newly crowned Goblin Queen, to get him back and bring the atrocities to light. Xandra must frequent the seediest parts of London, while also coping with what she is, the political factions vying for her favor, and the all too-close scrutiny of Queen Victoria, who wants her head. Add this to being a suspect in a murder investigation, a werewolf boyfriend with demands of his own, and a mother hell bent on destroying the monarchy, and Xandra barely knows which way is up. One thing she does know is that she's already lost one sibling, she's not about to lose another.
My Thoughts.
The Queen Is Dead is the second book in The Immortal Empire trilogy by Kate Locke.
This series is fantastic, and I hate the thought that this series isn't any longer, I don't want to say goodbye to these characters that I've fallen in love with.
Kate has a way of drawing you in with her captivating writing and equally entertaining and lovable characters.
I'm going to try and make this review as spoiler free as possible for those who haven't yet gotten around to reading any of the two books (and if you haven't well then you need to remedy that A.S.A.P!).
After the events at the end of the first book 'God Save The Queen', our heroine Vandra is having to get accustomed to her new role, whilst trying to put off making it official all the while trying to come to terms with the way her life has changed dramatically, after the shock of discovering what she really is as well as the betrayal and lies of those who kept it hidden from her and whom she thought that she could trust.
I'm so excited that we get more of the smexi Alpha wolf Vex, I love his character and his relationship with Vandra, especially in this book when she feels as though he is the only one that she can trust.
Vandra's relationship with the Goblin horde/plague strengthens in this book with more page time devoted to them and their lives underground, we also get to spend more time with Goblin Prince William, who is is becoming a major character in this series, and is quickly becoming one of my favorites.
With the disappearance of her brother Val, Vandra finds herself in a race against time to save him before his captives either use him in a macabre show or start to experiment on him like some of their other prisoners.
Full of action, adventure and an extremely kick-ass well dressed heroine. this series will have you intrigued the whole way through.
Highly recommended!
I give this 5/5 Stars.
Kate Locke has always enjoyed making things up — a trait that often got her into trouble as a child, but by which she enjoys making a living. Before writing fiction full time she worked as cook, a journalist and in a photo finishing lab where she saw enough pictures of naked people to rival Hugh Hefner. A guy once asked her out after giving her a role of film that he expressly requested she develop and print. The entire role was images of him stark naked in the woods. And no, that’s the kind of thing you just don’t make up.In her late 20s Kate sold her first book and enjoyed a 10 year career writing under a different name. Her love of fantasy and the paranormal refused to leave her alone, and one day, while sitting on the couch thinking of making a very scary career move, she started jotting down notes for a book she wanted to write just for the pure enjoyment of it; a book just for herself. That book became God Save the Queen. Her agent thought they could sell it — Kate wasn’t certain. Then, the day after having her gall bladder removed (again, can’t make this stuff up), Kate got the call that Orbit books — her dream publisher for God Save the Queen — had made an offer. And it’s been more exciting than she ever imagined.
Like Xandra Vardan, the heroine in God Save the Queen, Kate values those she loves above all else, and has hair a color not typically found in nature. Unfortunately, Kate’s comes from a bottle. She’s married to a fabulous man who doesn’t seem to care what she does to her hair, puts up with her occasional* craziness, helps her plot, and treats her like she’s the best thing since lipgloss.
Kate Locke is pseudonym for Kathryn Smith aka Kady Cross.
Website: http://www.katelocke.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/klockework
