Melissa de la Cruz

"When Cal and Lilac are forced to face dark forces apart, the strength of their love--and their kingdom--are put to the ultimate test"--

The Queen's Secret

Princess Twasam 

I had high hopes for this book. I could’ve been great but I don’t think it was for me. The first book was pretty good, an average YA fantasy but this book wasn’t it. The plot was everywhere yet nowhere and the character arcs were kinda disappointing. Lilac was a strong, independent woman in the first but I feel like she kinda just gave up, which is understandable, a lot happened in a short amount of time and she’s in a new country with people who don’t trust her but I was hoping she would fight back a bit more instead of leaving everything to everyone else but she wasn’t a bad character. The book overall is kinda slow but the ending seems rushed and kind of disappointing and almost all the characters except our two main characters, Lilac’s aunts, and Jander got on my nerves. This book was a fairly easy read and it’s not that bad but I wish we just got a little more reasoning and world building because the potential was there. But it was a decent book. 

nara davies

honestly not my favourite, as you can tell by the rating. it took me almost 2 weeks to finish it because i just couldn't get into it properly. i felt like the author was rushing to get the second book out, because the whole story felt forced and confusing. i also didn't like the way the author kept such large secrets from the readers, as we can't really feel how the characters feel if we don't know the entire story? although i kind of understand, as it was a two character point of view. the ending wasn't my favourite either, i don't know if it's just me being sad that they didn't end up together the way i would have wanted them too or it was just genuinely dissapointing but it was unique and definitely wasn't what i expected, in a good and bad way. i can easily say it wasn't my favourite, although i definitely don't regret reading it.

Alora

This book was not as good as the first book. There was a lot of drawn-out stuff in the middle of the book but the beginning and the end were both very fast-paced and exciting. The storyline continued off the last one and the ending was amazing - if slightly predictable. At one point I was worried that the book would not have a happy ending but the book ended nicely and in a realistic way. All in all I think this book was really good but the middle could have been condensed.

Maria emilia 

Heather Solov

Not as good as book one, but still an enjoyable read. It was nice to see Cal and Lilac's story continue and be wrapped up the way it was. It does feel like this story was a bit rushed, and had some plot holes, but I still had a good reading experience overall.

Gemma

** spoiler alert **
           This book was super angsty. Like, you didn't need to hurt your own feelings angsty. While I understand why the ending was the way it was, it didn't feel very in character. I'm also not a fan of the author keeping secrets from the reader and then giving the big reveal at the end of the book, similar to what she did in the previous. We're in the characters' head, there should be no secrets from the audience.

Claudia 

** spoiler alert **
           book review ✨ [a few spoilers]
•
The Queen's Secret by Melissa De La Cruz
Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐️
•
Thoughts: Okay, this book had a few things I didn't really like. The final big boss battle with the old King felt really random, especially how Lilac easily and quickly defeats him. Also, Queen Lilac never uses her powers during this book [except once], which were introduced in the first book [but I understand she doesn't have the opportunities to use them but still]. I also wasn't a big fan of the ending. I'm glad that Cal and Lilac can be together, but I don't feel like it was a satisfying end. What I did enjoy about this book is the constant agony and jealousy both Cal and Lilac experienced during their separation and their clear devotion to each other. I also liked that Lilac was constantly having an internal battle between following her heart vs doing her royal duties [and continuously making every possible excuse to stay clear of those royal duties]. 
•
I wouldn't say I was disappointed, but I think I was expecting something a bit more well rounded like the first book. 
•
let me know your thoughts! ✨
•
#bookstagram #books #yabooks #bookish #tbr #currentlyreading #thequeensassassin #melissadelacruz #kindle #comfortbooks

Ellie

Chelsea

Sina Meier

Aleeya Metro

Makayla Masson-Campbell

From #1 bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz comes the heart-pounding follow-up to The Queen's Assassin, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Holly Black. Lilac's birthright makes her the Queen of Renovia, and a forced marriage made her the Queen of Montrice. But being a ruler does not mean making the rules. For Lilac, taking the throne means giving up the opportunity to be with love of her life, the kingdom's assassin, Caledon Holt. Worse, Cal is forced to leave the castle when a horrific set of magical attacks threatens Lilac's sovereignty. Now Cal and Lilac will have to battle dark forces separately, even though being together is the only thing that's ever saved them. In the riveting conclusion to Melissa De La Cruz's fantasy duet, love and magic are at war, and victory rests on a knife's edge.

The Queen's Secret

Reviews