The Exiled Queen

Gr 8 Up—Raisa, an assertive young monarch, is exiled because she's fled a forced marriage to Micah, son of the power-hungry High Wizard. Pretending that she is a noblewoman named Rebecca, she attends a military school under the protection of Amon, a longtime friend, potential love interest, and personal guard. She's also attracted to Han, a wizard academy student and former street lord. This second title in the trilogy (Hyperion, 2010) by Cinda Williams Chima is populated by familiar characters, including Han's friend, Dancer, and Micah's twin, Fiona. It continues exploring the tensions rising over war, politics, and family struggles. Raisa strengthens her knowledge as ruler and her commitment to social justice for her subjects. Now magically adept, Han's affections for Raisa are returned, but a murky force draws him into a dangerous netherworld. Suspenseful plot twists, armed skirmishes, and powerful and inexplicable spells are all in good supply in the novel's many interwoven story strands. With crisp diction and appropriate emotional intensity, Carol Monda's narration boldly brings this fantasy/adventure/romance to full expression. With multifaceted characters full of real teen feelings and a cliff-hanger conclusion, this audiobook will attract a wide range of listeners and is recommended for public, middle, and high school library collections.—Barbara Wysocki, Cora J. Belden Library, Rocky Hill, CT