Queen of Wands (Tree of Ages #4)
Published September 21st 2017 by Vulture's Eye Publications (first published September 19th 2017), Kindle Edition 424 pages
Three Queens. One will live, two will die.
Now that her memories are back, Finn has a new mission. She must fight against her birthright while seeking vengeance against those who wronged her over a century ago. Yet, nothing is simple. Innocent lives hang in the balance, and Finn still does not truly know her enemy. Dark shadows lurk, waiting for the perfect opportunity to destroy everything she holds dear, and Finn’s magic alone cannot save them. Will she become what she is meant to be, or will the threat of loss make her falter when it matters most?
User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
This series gets better and better with each book and I’m so glad I stuck with it after a mediocre first book. This is by far the best out of the series yet and it’s gotten me really excited for what’s to come. It was non stop action from start to finish and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to see what would happen next. I’m finally starting to enjoy the characters but there’s still a little personality missing from them for me which is why I can’t give it the full five stars. I want more from the characters to make me fall fully in love. Fingers crossed the next book clinches it!
Rating: really liked it
I love finding a series to fall into and just live there for a little while. And the Tree of Ages has been that series for me this month.
Things are heating up by Queen of Wands, and I was frantically turning the pages every chance I got. Finn is in an interesting place after the discoveries of the previous book, and I loved watching her come to terms with what she now knows about herself . . . and make choices according to who she wants to be now.
There are plenty of high stakes and compelling twists, but these books never get too heavy or depressing.
And there may or may not have been a FINALLY kiss. But I don’t want to spoil anything for you . . . ;)
Rating: really liked it
I did guess incorrectly about the 3rd queen! Despite that fun reveal, this is my least favorite in the series, primarily because I reached the end and nothing was resolved (just how many books will this series have?). Also, now that Finn has her memories, she's lost all her confidence, and that made it harder to keep rooting for her.
Rating: really liked it
Great bookThe plot thickens as the saga continues. A very well written story with well developed characters and an interesting twist. Anxious to read the next book.
Rating: really liked it
I feel like the odd one out only giving this book BARELY 3 stars. I struggled with this one. I expected so much more to happen and have really loved the series up until this point.
Things I did not like:
It seems like the entire time they were traveling from one place to another and were constantly separated then rejoined together. The major battle scenes mostly happened at the end...and I thought those were even pretty tame.
I felt like this was the book that each character really gets built up...and I felt like most of them fell really flat. Kai felt almost absent in this book and his relationship with Finn. I thought he was over her until the end when he said he still felt the same way about her...wait, huh? That's not what it felt like.
Iseult is so boring. He has for the most part stayed the exact same in all of the books. "I must protect Finn. I must do my duty. I must not feel, and stomp off when I get mad and not say anything unless it is to Finn." When he FINALLY kissed her, I was cheering...but then that was it. Their relationship didn't get closer and continued to stay strained and awkward.
There were also so many parts of this book that just had me going, huh? Everything about the Travelers had me scratching my head until maybe the end of the book. Also suddenly everyone's goal is to bread the barriers of the in between? Huh? Why can't they just all get along. Oh and suddenly the prophecy might not be what it actually means. I hope this isn't dragged out for another 3 books, I feel like it all could have been solved in 3.
What I did like:
Ellasaid and Maarav. Maarav is such a change from his brother's character. He is witty, and has a sense of humor and by the end of the book openly tells Ellasaid how he feels. Both the brothers will do anything to follow these women until the end, but Maarav seems to be the only one with the balls to be vocal about how he feels.
Finn's growth in this book was apparent. I still felt like she was a silly naive girl, but she owned up to some responsibilities and the change in her was apparent.
Anna. I didn't care for her character much at all...but in this book she really grew on me.
Saving grace of this book was the battles at the end. I think they could have been better written with more depth and sorrow from the losses. Battles are suppose to be gory and bloody...it was missing that, they were just so tame and PG.
I would be willing to give the 5th book (whenever that comes out) a chance, considering how much time I have invested in reading the first 4. I flew through the first 2.5 easily...but it was a struggle to get through part of the third and most of the 4th.
Rating: really liked it
Characters less relatableThe characters in this book are becoming even less relatable. The women, supposedly queens, are damsels in distress, only able to function when they have a man to help and support them. All except the two “evil” women - coincidence that the ones who don’t have a man helping them are the antagonists? I think not. Finn especially drives me nuts with her weakness. And, to make it worse, one of the lesbian women is suddenly attracted to a guy, and there was a hint of a bad past with men. So, what, she had bad experience with men and that’s what made her a lesbian? Until she found a guy who could change her mind? Ridiculous. Hard to believe this is written by a woman.
Rating: really liked it
Book 1 of this series was an interesting beginning. It was off to a promising start. 2nd and 3rd book in, and its just basically adding more characters, more POV's, and and on and on adventure of searching for something and being chased by something, getting separated, getting manipulated and then finding each other again. Anyway, the good thing that came out of these was that the leads slowly created their own group and a friendship was born.
But, omg, reading this 4th installment, somewhere halfway, I almost just want to give up. First, Finn' s character was useless most of the time. Even on the supposed big fight scene near the end, she was mostly stunned and watching her friends fight. Even with her memory back. She is supposedly someone powerful, but she's a disappointment in the end. And I've been waiting for her to show her power. Well, she did but I wasn't impress anymore. Kai, who has played a big role on the previous books and have been built up as someone she cried over (here enters her romance angle), is almost nada here. Since It seems it's Iseault's time to be cried over. Because of course one man is not enough for her to fall for. I wish it didnt go in this direction as it seems unnecessary. I almost wish there was no romantic thing going.
In other words, definitely not a fan of this installment. Now I'm off to the next and last installment. Yeah I will read it just cause I want to see how it all end and I still hope there's more to these lead characters.
Rating: really liked it
Finn has regained most of her memories and she wants nothing to do with the Cavari, yet if she is supposed to be their Queen what is she going to do? She would rather defend her friends then her people, so she chooses power over peace. Finn knows that if she is ever to face Oighear, the snow queen once again, she needs all the power she can get and she needs to learn how to harness the power of the shroud which was now in her possession. Seems like many people were finally believing in the prophecy which said that three queens were to arise at the same time but that only one would live and rule the land. Ealasaid had never even dreamt that she could be one of these queens but turns out she was the queen of mages and of mortals, called the queen of wands and Keiren was turning her against Finn for her own ends as usual. This evil sorceress seems to have a finger in every pie, trying to use one person after another but maybe now she too is being used by Niklas the traveller. Whatever game they are all fighting over it seems as though they all want the same outcome, that of dropping the veil of the in-between. So which queen will win in the end? They are all gathering their armies at the moment preparing for one big final battle! Dark faie against light faie, mortals against magic wielders and it seems like friends against one another too. This series is getting darker as we read on and ever more intriguing I just have to go on reading as I am really into the story.
Rating: really liked it
This is the fourth book in the Tree of Ages epic fantasy series. I read them all back to back after falling in love with book 1 (Tree of Ages.) Gah, things really come to a head in this book! I flew through it, desperate to know what would happen next. There is some fabulous character development in this book, perhaps more than any of the others. The author pushes her characters to the limit without making the story too dark or depressing. (One of my common complaints with this genre as it is today.) I would list my favorite characters, but it's easier to say they're all fantastic!
As with the previous books, there isn't much romance, (though it's hinted at), which was a slight disappointment to me, (as a romance fanatic.) But the tone works; the books all feel cohesive and clear, which is no mean feat in a series, let me tell ya!
I highly recommend this series for anyone who enjoys the fantasy genre. But be warned: once you start reading, you won't be able to stop! Thank goodness book 5 is coming out soon! :)
Rating: really liked it
I read the entire series in a week, so I thought to review now before the next installment is out. Normally I would have been irritated that nothing is truly resolved at the end...however, not so with this series! I realized there ARE answers and resolutions, and they lend to the entire storyline, so I just need to be patient and enjoy. I really enjoyed the character development and the originality of each character's predicament. I also love how, in my opinion, there is no easy solution, or blatant solution to each problem or challenge faced by the characters. Hence devouring all the books in a week.
I love fantasy and urban fantasy, and this is an author I'm sticking with.
Rating: really liked it
This book was another five stars. It pulled me in, just like the others and the story has not become tiring. I will say that Finn ticked me off in this book though. You would think that with everything that she has been through, that she wouldnt be hesitant when it comes to fighting. I mean, come on. She sees her friend being attacked by something evil. Shes about to be attacked as well (the cute lil dragon saves her) and she doesnt react? Just stands there? I hope she gets herself together in the book, before any more people she cares about dies...oh, and Im really going to be very upset if something happens to that dragon
Rating: really liked it
Lead Character is WEAK & NIAVEI read through book 4, then I had to give it up a quarter of the way through. The lead Character (Finn) keeps leading her friends into danger and traps, keeps getting caught and blunders into situations she KNOWS are risky/wrong. Ugh! I thought after she got her memories back, she would act like a rational adult. NOPE. The author also tries to keep things interesting by having Finn vacillate between her two potential romantic partners. She apparently can't develop feelings for someone over YEARS and decide who she wants (timeline is sketchy, so who knows). She just leads these poor men on. What a waste of time.
Rating: really liked it
This is a wonderful series where, as in the best of series, the characters start of strong and continue to grow and get more layered and complex, as does the plot, and the world created for the characters to interact in. I love those characters, especially the lead Finn who had been such a pleasure to watch develop. I've also loved traveling along as the plot grew more and more complex and exciting. It's reached a new height in this book and it's a fine thing indeed to experience.
Highly recommend.
Rating: really liked it
The seasons are changing...I always keep the last 🌟star in hopes for something better. While the book 3 left me giddy and excited, book 4 has me bothered and pensive, I worry about the destruction of the promising ties that reached beyond friendship, broken promises and the shroud of secrecy. While some reunions brought joy to my heart some other unions shouldn't even be. In all, for this book to affect me so, it's kudos to the author, I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys fantasy, romance with a dollop of humour.
Rating: really liked it
The action really ramps up as we hurtle towards fulfilling the prophecy and what exactly that is going to mean for our beloved adventurers. Relationships start to *finally* move forward, although it happens relatively simultaneously with 3 pairs that it has a slight air of "endingitis;" but at the same time they all know each other well enough now that it kind of makes sense.
Lines are drawn, sides are called, named characters die, villainous perspectives change, and Sara really plays around with your head. I LOVED IT.
