Review: Demon Queen by Kassandra Lynn

DEMON QUEEN

Demon Kingdom Fairy Tales, Book 3

by Kassandra Lynn

YA Fantasy

159 pages

Adriana once again finds herself on the verge of another coronation, but this time as Sebastian Dalman’s demon queen. Disguised as her protector for five years, he had guarded her closely as the head of her guard while keeping his identity hidden from everyone, including her. Now, Sebastian has claimed back what was rightfully his, the demon scepter and his betrothed—Adriana. But in a land of demons, secrets dwell deep and they have a nasty habit of revealing themselves.

MY TIDBITS

I did read the other two books in this series--and enjoyed both immensely--and would not recommend reading this book as a stand alone. There is quite a bit of background information not only in the plot but character relationships and goals, which is necessary to know before diving into this last adventure.

Adriana, like in both of the other books before, again finds herself at a coronation. Again, it is her own, but this time as the Queen, wed to Sebastian. And again, the entire event is blown by the way side as the castle falls under attack. I enjoyed the repetition in the opening scenes, each similar but so different that it made a perfect way to dive with Adriana into the next rush. And this story is a rush.

There's never a dull moment as Adriana fights not only for her life and those of who she cares for, but also her kingdom, that which is right, and her heart. She has a full plate and not much time to clear it all. Luckily, this isn't a huge novel, which lessens the guilt when the reader can't put the book down until the last page. Adriana is pulled from one situation into the next without time to rest, which does wear her and her comrades down.

The fairly wide array on characters and their intentions makes this a layered story, and although it's pretty clear what each party wants, Adriana is stuck in the middle emotionally. There's never a clear cut black and white for her, despite her desire to do what's right. And that gives her a nice, realistic touch.

The only thing which bothered me about this book was the ending. It's sweet and the ends are nicely wrapped up, but it concludes to quickly. I missed another chapter to help glide the reader back down from the adventure and give time for the ending to sink in completely.

Otherwise, this was a fun series with more action than character depth, tons of spark and adventure to keep the tension high until the end. Oh, and there's romance too. Lots of that. And both heroes are so wonderful, it's hard to decide which one to cheer for.

Review: Demon King by Kassandra Lynn

DEMON KING

Demon Kingdom Fairy Tales, Book 2

by Kassandra Lynn

YA Fantasy

181 pages

Adriana has returned to her kingdom and ascended the throne as the rightful Demon King. However, she finds her home on the brink of war. Heartbroken and drained from a forbidden love, Adriana must find a way to assume her responsibilities, stop a war, and somehow unravel the family secrets that threaten to destroy her world. It’s a tremendous feat, but one she may be destined for. 

MY TIDBITS

After reading the first book in this series, DEMON PRINCESS, I had to get my hands on this one to find out what happened to Adriana next. This book picks up right where the last one left off. In other words, I wouldn't recommend this as a stand-alone. But since the books in the series are only around 180 pages a piece, none of them requires hours of reading.

Adriana has matured since we first met her at the beginning of book one, but after all of her adventures, that's to be expected. She's ready to take on her responsibilities (more or less) and has toughened up considerably. I enjoyed the fact that there's a certain amount of deja vu to this beginning. She's back there where it all started, at Demon Court. Unlike the first book, this doesn't start with her coronation, but someone else is about to take the throne. Tension fills these first pages, pulling the reader into the story the second it starts.

One of my favorite things about this series is the twists and turns. There are so many things going on which Adriana (and no one else) is aware of--scheming, plotting and power plays from so many sides. It's hard to know who to trust and who is really on Adriana's side.

Adriana is growing up, but there's still a lot for her to learn. At times, her decisions made me want to slap her, and despite her determination, sometimes I'd expect a little more strength from her. I guess that's the difference between a demon princess and a real demon king, and one of Adriana's biggest struggles within herself.

The pacing is fantastic never letting go from start to finish. The descriptions are just enough to spark the imagination and make it clear what's going on. The character interactions are nicely done, and it's easy to feel the ties/tension between them. The romance isn't as clear as it had been in book one, but that wouldn't fit well with the plot since several things are happening which make that whole area a little more difficult.

All in all, this is a fun read. Sometimes it feels a little superficial, but I have no problem with that. The story is engaging, entertaining, action packed and offers everything a good book should. YA paranormal fans who simply want to be caught up in a intriguing world will thoroughly enjoy this one. I'm looking forward to book three.

And here she is. . .

KASSANDRA LYNN!!!

Kassandra Lynn is the author of Book of Immortals series and Demon Kingdom Fairy Tales series. Her favorite genres are fantasy and romance. She especially enjoys reading and writing about unique concepts, unpredictable plots, and protagonists who aren't the typical protagonists.

Link to my website: http://www.kassandralynn.com

Review: Demon Princess by Kassandra Lynn

DEMON PRINCESS 

Demon Kingdom Fairy Tales, Book 1

by Kassandra Lynn

YA Fantasy

162 pages

With her father gone and her brother missing, Demon Princess Adriana has to assume the throne, temporarily becoming the Demon King. The procession is underway, and the princess is nervous yet determined … until the unthinkable happens and she is summoned! Somehow, Aldric, a mage-in-training has summoned the princess into the human kingdom. Now trapped, Adriana must hide her identity and escape before she loses her life in the hands of her mortal enemies.

MY TIDBITS

The second I saw the cover and read the blurb, I knew this was one I had to get my hands on.

From the very first page, I was hooked. We meet Adriana, a demon princess, just as she's on her way to be crowned Demon King, since her brother and father disappeared. She's nervous, not sure it will work, but is ready to face what she must for the sake of her kingdom. And this already makes her a character that's easy to love, but when she's suddenly kidnapped and swept away to horrid circumstances, it's impossible not to feel for her.

But she's a princess through and through. There's the perfect hero, some more complicated characters which it was hard to determine whether they should be loved or hated, and a world ready to destroy her if they discovered who she really was. The fantastical creatures, exciting magic and dangerous battles made this into a real treat. In other words, the tension held from one page to the next, and I ended up reading this in one setting.

There are a few little holes in the plot, and a couple actions I didn't quite understand, but this by no means made the book any less fun to read. I can't wait to read book two and see what happens next. 


And here she is. . .

KASSANDRA LYNN!!!

Kassandra Lynn is the author of Book of Immortals series and Demon Kingdom Fairy Tales series. Her favorite genres are fantasy and romance. She especially enjoys reading and writing about unique concepts, unpredictable plots, and protagonists who aren't the typical protagonists.

Link to my website: http://www.kassandralynn.com