ARC Review: King Slayer

Witch Hunter: King Slayer| Virginia Boecker

Published by: Orchard Books, June 2nd 2016

Genre: YA, Historical, Fantasy, Witches

Pages: 400

Format: Ebook

Source: Orchard, via Netgalley

Magic, suspense, and political intrigue collide in this sequel to The Witch Hunter, perfect for fans of Graceling and the Grisha Trilogy.

Former witch hunter Elizabeth Grey is hiding within the magically protected village of Harrow, evading the price put on her head by Lord Blackwell, the usurper king of Anglia. Their last encounter left Blackwell ruined, but his thirst for power grows stronger every day. He's readying for a war against those who would resist his rule--namely Elizabeth and the witches, wizards, pirates, and healers she now calls her friends.

Having lost her stigma, a magical source of protection and healing, Elizabeth's strength is tested both physically and emotionally. War always means sacrifice, and as the lines between good and evil blur once more, Elizabeth must decide just how far she'll go to save those she loves.

In this sequel to The Witch Hunter, Virginia Boecker delivers a powerful story full of action, suspense, camaraderie, and romance. 

My heart has been stabbed half a dozen times. This heartless book.

First off, Elizabeth is my fave, forever. She's capable and deadly with a sword but sensitive and caring. I love her so much. And John. And them together. But the corrupt!John thing KILLED ME. I cried about three times, and it was so unfair. He didn't deserve that. (Plus WHY with the ending? So, so cruel. Worst ending ever.)

Other things I adore about this book are: the perfect tension that really made it feel like a war was building, Blackwell's vulnerability - he really came into his own as a villain in this book, Caleb's cunning, incredible setting details, scary as hell plot (I'm talking about John not loving Elizabeth here), and pretty damn awesome friendships, by which I mean Elizabeth and Schuyler, Elizabeth and Fifer. I didn't like Elizabeth forgiving Malcolm, but you do you (plus she thought they were about to die, so I forgive that.) And it did have some lovely romantic moments that were a balm to my sore heart - I will never forget Elizabeth and John in the apothecary shop. Please print that scene on my tomb stone.

A thrilling and tense historical fantasy series, with romance that hurts and soothes at once, and characters that are impossible to forget. I love this series so much.

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world ★★★★★

Writing ★★★★★

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Witch Hunter (ARC Review)

The Witch Hunter: Witch Hunter | Virginia Boecker

Published by: Hodder & Stoughton, September 1st 2015

Genre: YA, Historical (sorta), Fantasy, Witches

Pages: 409

Format: Ebook

Source: Hodder & Stoughton, via Netgalley

Witches, watch out... Half Bad meets Kill Bill in this incredible new supernatural series.

Sixteen-year-old Elizabeth Grey doesn't look dangerous. A tiny, blonde, wisp of a girl shouldn't know how to poison a wizard and make it look like an accident. Or take out ten necromancers with a single sword and a bag of salt. Or kill a man using only her thumb. But things are not always as they appear. Elizabeth is one of the best witch hunters in Anglia and a member of the king's elite guard, devoted to rooting out witchcraft and bringing those who practice it to justice. And in Anglia, the price of justice is high: death by burning.

When Elizabeth is accused of being a witch herself, she's arrested and thrown in prison. The king declares her a traitor and her life is all but forfeit. With just hours before she's to die at the stake, Elizabeth gets a visitor - Nicholas Perevil, the most powerful wizard in Anglia. He offers her a deal: he will free her from prison and save her from execution if she will track down the wizard who laid a deadly curse on him.

As Elizabeth uncovers the horrifying facts about Nicholas's curse and the unwitting role she played in its creation, she is forced to redefine the differences between right and wrong, friends and enemies, love and hate... and life and death.

The first book in an incredible new series set in a fantastical medieval world.

This book has been compared to Graceling, Game of Thrones, Kill Bill, Half Bad, and the novels of both Sarah J. Maas and Holly Black. Basically, the comparisons need to chill. I understand the usefulness of them, and have found many a great book because of a comparison, but SIX for one book?

This book is awesome and can stand apart from (and above most of) the comparisons. Set in a fantasy version of England, Witch Hunter introduces us to a world where witches are persecuted and witch hunters work for the Inquisitor, a real nasty weasel called Blackwell - who has his own agenda for wanting wizards killed (and a serious plot twist that is!) I loved the world of Witch Hunter instantly. I've read a lot of witch books and none of them really caught my interest as much as this, and once I was fully absorbed in the story I was flying through the pages and unable to stop reading.

The unique world forms the basis of this story, but the characters really carry it. I ended up loving Elizabeth way more than I first expected, and I fell head over heels for John. Another thing this book does is it introduces a female as the bitchy, jealous rival and then COMPLETELY CHANGES THAT by throwing them together and making them friends. Thank you, Witch Hunter, for this female friendship. And don't even get me started on the romance between John and Elizabeth, the slowest of slow burns that had me wanting to push their faces together and shout JUST KISS.

I loved literally everything about this book - the gradual romance, the stand out characters, the vivid world and its dark secrets. I need the next book immediately.

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world-building ★★★★★

Writing ★★★★☆

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Reading round up (87)

Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress, my thoughts on each book as I read it, and any books I've acquired during the week. 

Delayed post because I went to Scarborough for birthday celebrations and then forgot to update for a few days.

17th August

I read 43% of The Unquiet by Mikaela Everett, which is really cool. I like how the parts of this book are spread out by years. Makes it feel more realistic.

18th August

Today I read another 30% of The Unquiet, finishing it. I really really liked it. Completely unique.

I started Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley, too, and read 11%. This is gonna piss me off so much, I can already tell.

19th August

Yep, Lies We Tell Ourselves is making me angry with literally every page. I don't know what I expected from a book about institutional racism but it wasn't uncontrollable rage and the urge to kill fictional kids. I read 25% today.

20th August

I read another 34% of Lies We Tell Ourselves, and I prefer Sarah's POV to Linda's but now I understand Linda a bit better.

21st August

I finished Lies We Tell Ourselves, and I was pretty emotional in the end.

22nd August

I started Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker (16%), which is actually pretty good. Can't tell if it's set in London or York though. Hoping York!

23rd August

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!! :)

I read nothing today because I was busy shopping and gazing at ships and the lighthouse. Cool stuff.

24th August

I read 32% of Witch Hunter and I'm enjoying it so much.

25th August

Okay, so I'm in love with Witch Hunter. And John, precious John, my child, my perfect healer. Today I read 34%.

26th August

I finished Witch Hunter (18%), and went through immediate withdrawals. So I read The Healer, the novella about John. I loved the insight into him and the things that haunt him, and it made me want to protect him 1000000% more. Stop tormenting John, Boecker!!

Also I started Fire and Chasm by Chelsea M, Campbell. Intriguing so far, and I can see it being really good.

Books finished this week: 4
Books DNF'd this week: 0

For review:

Two genres I rarely read for this week's galleys: contemporary romance and adult literary fantasy. Intrigued by all, and have high expectations of the Rachel Vincent one (of course.)

Polaris (4.5 STARS)
For The Right To Learn (4 STARS)
Eden's Wish (3 STARS)