Queen of Myth and Monsters (Adrian X Isolde, 2)

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Vela was her mother’s home and kingdom. Isolde’s character was filled with rage and was committed to expelling anyone who stood in her path. In spite of this, life gave her pause when he met Adrian, the guy who would make his heart race. On the other hand, Isolde’s father did not think highly of the man. The queen, though, didn’t pay attention. As a result, it cost her father’s life. Adrian When Isolde is transformed into a werewolf, instead of adjusting to her new abilities, she freaks out and refers to Adrian as a monster. Then she says she’s not comparing being a werewolf to his condition, despite the fact that several vampires can shapeshift. And likely Adrian can as well as we don’t know what his abilities are.

How far would you go for love? When Isolde, one of queens of myth and monsters first met Adrian, the love of her life, that question kept circling in her head. Because she was certain that involving her heart with Adrian would endanger the safety of her homeland and her father. This is the second book in the Adrian x Isolde series, and I was so excited to get my hands on it once I finished King of Battle and Blood. I wished I was kidding when I said that everything that could have gone wrong with this book, went wrong. This series might be based on a love story, but I'd hardly call this book a romance. Compared to the first instalment in the series, where the characters have such depth of feeling and tenderness for each other with great spice; and so many side characters were introduced and readied for their moment to shine… It seems that the author decided that, instead of shinning, they are all to be plummeted into darkness. Including the MCs. He is a perfect example of a madman. In Queen of Myth and Monsters, his persona is rife with violence and hatred. His terrible past had sharpened him to anger. Peace is not in his vocabulary. And the book truly does grow darker with each chapter. By the end the characters are so completely different to what they were in the first book that it almost feels like an entirely different story. Those who were painted as antagonistic, kind of selfish, and entitled in the first book are now the most loyal and kind, whilst the ones appointed as the inner circle seem to grow wary, angry and tired of their position, on the prowl for the most convenient time to reveal that they were never all that loyal to begin with. And most of all, this book truly feels like the story of how two once beloved protagonists turn into villains trying to keep power for themselves, no matter how many suffer for it.

Part 2: What To Expect in Queen of Myth and Monsters Novel?

Scarlett manages to write real, true, and devastating (the good kind) characters. I’m thankful for the spice that heals the wounds inflicted by this perfect installment of the Adrian x Isolde series. Scarlett’s words are brilliant, the story is wound and flows perfectly. Perfectly in a way you see nothing coming and you’re at the edge of your seat the whole time. Queen of Myth and Monsters brought out my white boards, red string, and conspiracy cap. Yet all my ideas were wrong 😂 Gods…it was so good. A true fantasy. A true romance. A true piece of art. This chapter of Queen of Myth and Monsters was written from Adrian’s point of view. Like Isolde, he was constantly yearning for a brutal battle that would endanger the kingdom. He was currently on the witch’s territory, but their spells couldn’t touch him because he had been trained to kill. In the end, he was successful, and as he turned to go after casting one last glance, a grin appeared on his lips. Such a great instalment. And after reading the author’s note I feel like we share the same opinions. If you’ve read any works about matriarchal societies, the rise of patriarchy, or the witch hunts - this fantasy romance is such an inspiration of that. It’s obvious in the first book the author had done some research into this and the second one even more so. RTC! She is the most brutal of all the queens in the Lara Kingdom. Queen Isolde, the queen of myth and monsters had a happy upbringing until King George killed her mother, which caused her to become extremely enraged and want revenge. She swore solemnly that she would rob him of the kingdom of Vela and execute him without pity.

They have sex (not always intercourse) 11.5 times in the main book (.5 for a hypothetical but described sex scene) and !THREE times in just the bonus scene at the end alone. And they fight at least once between almost every single one of those scenes. I can only think of one, maybe two sex scenes that felt natural for the moment and actually intriguing. It’s all just so repetitive and basic and truly overwrought. And it wasn't even new fights. But reworded iterations the same fights. And after awhile I was just annoyed. Rather than push through and give this a low rating, when I know I won't be continuing with the series anyways, I just decided to put it down.

This review is going to be hard to write because this book was one of my most anticipated books of the year *sad emoji* It's such a shame that it didn't deliver as good as the first one. King of Battle and Blood was epic, it instantly charmed me and I was so into the story I couldn't stop reading it. The writing was very nice and the flow of the story so easy to follow. There was action, romance, steam, and betrayal. Everything in a beautiful, entertaining fantasy romance! But Queen of Myth and Monsters, though it did have similar moments, felt so flat for me. Personality is a .5 out of 5. Isolde thinks she knows better. She jumps to conclusions. She creates problems out of thin air. All of a sudden she’s OBSESSED with her mother’s village. She’s then obsessed with her past life that she doesn’t fully remember. She’s mad that Adrian pointed out that she didn’t have magic… WHICH SHE DOESN’T. She gets mad at Adrian pretty much every other chapter and what’s the only way to make her feel better? Sex. There is never a resolution. Queen of Myth and Monsters reminded me of Hollee Mand's Winter Sun in how much of the conflict lies in the court's disapproval of the hero's choice in wife. Isolde is considered a distraction for Adrian on his wars. It's less that Isolde is considered not good enough and more that she poses a distraction for Adrian (Winter Sun has more angst in how the court thinks lowly of the heroine!) The corners of Adrian’s lips curled, and he learned closer, his breath on my lips as he spoke. “If that is your wish, I shall build it myself.”