A rebel queen fans the sparks of revolution.Picking up immediately after the events of Ash Princess (2018), Sebastian's expansive sequel finds young Queen Theodosiaher title newly reclaimedfleeing her country and throne. With her people still enslaved, Theo will need allies and an army to free them, and her aunt, the fierce and manipulative pirate Dragonsbane, insists that the only way to acquire either is if Theo marriessomething no queen has ever done in Astrea's history. Wracked by nightmares, guilt, and fear that she is losing herself (and more), Theo balks but, with few options open to her, grudgingly agrees to meet with suitors at a grand invitational hosted by the king of the opulent Sta'Crivero. Readers looking for further immersion and expansion of Theo's world will not be disappointed here. The narrative suffers marginally from lengthy details picked up and soon put back down with no real service to plot or character development, but Theo's first-person narration remains enthralling with emotional immediacy as she learns more and more about her world and the people (and cruelty) within it. Vengeance, political corruption, and mystery are the main drivers, and questions of trauma, empathy, and sacrifice hold the reigns as Theo grapples with emergent magic, inconvenient romances, and the crushing weight of her choices as a leader.Packed to the brim with intrigue and the promise of a third installment. (maps) (Fantasy. 14-17) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Theodosia, princess of the conquered Astrea, has finally escaped from the vicious Kaiser who has held her captive since she was six years old. Desperate to find the political and military support that will help her reclaim her country from the Kalovaxians who have enslaved her people, Theo sets sail with her aunt, the capricious pirate Dragonsbane, with the Kaiser's son as her hostage. In the kingdom of Sta'Crivero, Theo finds a temporary safe haven, but she also faces a difficult choice: the quickest way to an army is through marriage, but Astrean leaders are polyamorous queens, and none has ever taken a husband before. But Theo's would-be suitors have motivations of their own, and she will have to learn what it means to be a queen outside of captivity. Sebastian skillfully grows her world and her heroine in this gripping sequel (Ash Princess, 2018), which features a teenage girl fighting for power in a difficult world. Theo's journey isn't over, and readers will be eager for the next phase of her adventures.--Maggie Reagan Copyright 2019 Booklist