Author: Sarah Fine
Series: Untitled #1
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release Date: January 5, 2016
Summary from Goodreads:
Sixteen-year-old Elli was a small child when the Elders of Kupari chose her to succeed the Valtia, the queen who wields infinitely powerful ice and fire magic. Since then, Elli has lived in the temple, surrounded by luxury and tutored by magical priests, as she prepares for the day when the Valtia perishes and the magic finds a new home in her. Elli is destined to be the most powerful Valtia to ever rule.
But when the queen dies defending the kingdom from invading warriors, the magic doesn’t enter Elli. It’s nowhere to be found.
Disgraced, Elli flees to the outlands, the home of banished criminals—some who would love to see the temple burn with all its priests inside. As she finds her footing in this new world, Elli uncovers devastating new information about the Kupari magic, those who wield it, and the prophecy that foretold her destiny. Torn between the love she has for her people and her growing loyalty to the banished, Elli struggles to understand the true role she was meant to play. But as war looms, she must align with the right side—before the kingdom and its magic are completely destroyed.
Sixteen-year-old Elli was a small child when the Elders of Kupari chose her to succeed the Valtia, the queen who wields infinitely powerful ice and fire magic. Since then, Elli has lived in the temple, surrounded by luxury and tutored by magical priests, as she prepares for the day when the Valtia perishes and the magic finds a new home in her. Elli is destined to be the most powerful Valtia to ever rule.
But when the queen dies defending the kingdom from invading warriors, the magic doesn’t enter Elli. It’s nowhere to be found.
Disgraced, Elli flees to the outlands, the home of banished criminals—some who would love to see the temple burn with all its priests inside. As she finds her footing in this new world, Elli uncovers devastating new information about the Kupari magic, those who wield it, and the prophecy that foretold her destiny. Torn between the love she has for her people and her growing loyalty to the banished, Elli struggles to understand the true role she was meant to play. But as war looms, she must align with the right side—before the kingdom and its magic are completely destroyed.
Review
Sarah Fine has done it AGAIN. She creates some of the most unique stories I have ever read and some of the most fleshed out characters and relationships. The Imposter Queen is only her latest in a long line of amazing reads.
Elli has been preparing her whole life to become this super magical Queen who will do great things for her people only to find out in the harshest of ways that that isn't her destiny at all. She barely escapes with her life and finds herself at the mercy of the outcasts of her city. It is there where she learns of her true purpose but it goes against everything she was raised to believe in. I loved uncovering the truth of this world alongside Elli - it was mesmerizing in a cruel and unfair way. It was easy to get swept up in it all as Elli comes to terms with this new dangerous and unfamiliar reality. As she struggled to adapt, she displayed so much strength and an unwavering desire to do right by her people. Her character was so admirable.
As with all of Sarah Fine's previous books, the pacing of the story was strong and steady such that this book always held my attention. And there was the promise of a beautiful romance to root for throughout. Oscar was another good one. He had powerful magic but was afraid of using it and accidentally hurting others so he held it inside himself and suffered in silence. I felt for him and loved how Elli balanced him out. Their slow-burn romance wasn't without it's complication but they were great together. And I would be remiss not to mention the rest of the cast of secondary characters who were just as interesting and complex. Sarah Fine has a way of writing very grey characters - they are neither clearly good or bad. I love it.
There isn't anything this book doesn't offer readers. It was exciting, new, adventurous, interesting, romantic, brave, and ultimately satisfying. There is enough left wanting for the next book but it ended in a good place as well. Every book of Fine's just cements my fangirl status. If you have any inkling for fantasy, I highly recommend you check this one out, or any of her other books.
Elli has been preparing her whole life to become this super magical Queen who will do great things for her people only to find out in the harshest of ways that that isn't her destiny at all. She barely escapes with her life and finds herself at the mercy of the outcasts of her city. It is there where she learns of her true purpose but it goes against everything she was raised to believe in. I loved uncovering the truth of this world alongside Elli - it was mesmerizing in a cruel and unfair way. It was easy to get swept up in it all as Elli comes to terms with this new dangerous and unfamiliar reality. As she struggled to adapt, she displayed so much strength and an unwavering desire to do right by her people. Her character was so admirable.
As with all of Sarah Fine's previous books, the pacing of the story was strong and steady such that this book always held my attention. And there was the promise of a beautiful romance to root for throughout. Oscar was another good one. He had powerful magic but was afraid of using it and accidentally hurting others so he held it inside himself and suffered in silence. I felt for him and loved how Elli balanced him out. Their slow-burn romance wasn't without it's complication but they were great together. And I would be remiss not to mention the rest of the cast of secondary characters who were just as interesting and complex. Sarah Fine has a way of writing very grey characters - they are neither clearly good or bad. I love it.
There isn't anything this book doesn't offer readers. It was exciting, new, adventurous, interesting, romantic, brave, and ultimately satisfying. There is enough left wanting for the next book but it ended in a good place as well. Every book of Fine's just cements my fangirl status. If you have any inkling for fantasy, I highly recommend you check this one out, or any of her other books.
