Queen of the Unwanted

October 14, 2019
The door-stopper second installment of Glass’s feminist dystopian trilogy (after The Women’s War) offers an incisive, if sometimes slogging, exploration of the aftermath of abrupt social change. When the Abbess of Aaltah’s spell swept through all of Seven Wells, women gained the power to control their fertility and avenge rapes by rendering men impotent. Three powerful women rulers navigate this new world order: Princess Alysoon of Women’s Well, the egalitarian rebel community that springs up around the new well of magic; Queen Ellinsoltah of Rhozinolm, whose authority is challenged by patriarchy at home and abroad; and the notorious and ambitious Mother Mairahsol, newly appointed Abbess of Khalpar, whose ascent is tethered to her promise that she will reverse the “Curse” and restore men to power. Glass’s universe is impeccably detailed, but the focus on trade, politics, and marriage may dull the interest of readers hungry for action. This feels more like a stepping stone to the final book than a satisfying story in its own right. Agent: Miriam Kriss, Irene Goodman Literary.

February 1, 2020

In the aftermath of the spell that the Abbess of Aaltah released, women through all of Seven Wells now hold power over their own bodies, causing the patriarchal society to fracture. All isn't easy, however, when the world suddenly changes. Princess Alysoon of Women's Well is more focused on personal tragedy than on ruling, and issues with other family members crop up. Rhozinolm's Queen Ellinsoltah tries to navigate the challenges to her reign, including facing a political marriage that could put her throne--and heart--in jeopardy. In Khalpar, a new abbess, Mother Mairahsol, steps into power with the promise that she can reverse the "Curse" and let men retake authority. Focusing on trade and politics, Glass's ("The Women's War") second book in the series provides more scenic and character details than action, but further develops this imaginative realm. VERDICT A fantasy world built around a feminist society draws on themes that are front and center in the real world today, with an eye to differing viewpoints. The dynamics, intrigue, and plot twists will keep readers immersed.--Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2020
In this sequel to The Women's War (2019), Glass continues to explore the question of what happens when women wield power. When last we left our two heroines, Alys and Ellin, both were exploring their power as sovereign rulers, and their journeys continue in this volume. Alys is going to have to overcome a terrible loss if she's going to lead the citizens of Women's Well, a newly founded colony in which men and women are equal. And Ellin must fight to keep her crown in a country not quite ready for a woman to reign supreme. Both women are adjusting to a new reality in their world. After centuries in which men ruled both state and religion, a spell cast by Alys' mother, Brynna, has made it possible for women to decide whether or not they conceive and carry children. Not only does this present a grave challenge to patriarchy, but it also reveals that women's magic might well be as strong as that of men. The writing here is a bit more assured than it was in the first installment of this three-part series. A surfeit of scene-setting detail often slowed the narrative in that book; this one moves at a slightly faster clip. But one aspect of fantasy--present from The Lord of the Rings to the Earthsea trilogy and beyond--that's missing here is a sense of existential drama. Glass spends a lot of time on court intrigue and international alliances and trade agreements and interpersonal relationships--all of which seem to go on much as they always have. The fact that women are in control of their reproductive destinies and the discovery that women's magic is more powerful than anyone imagined feel like they should be world-changing, but...they just kind of aren't. Of course, there are readers who might argue that traditional sword-and-sorcery epics often fail when it comes to character development and emotional richness, especially with female characters; such readers might appreciate Glass' more intimate, character-driven approach to fantasy. People who enjoyed the first installment in this series should enjoy the second, and people who wanted to like it but got discouraged by the slow pace might want to give Glass another chance. An assured second volume in this feminism-inflected saga.

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March 1, 2020
Alternative personal and political viewpoints are unlocked in the second book of Glass' feminist fantasy epic (after The Women's War, 2019). All is not well in the newborn Principality of Women's Well. Sovereign Princess Alysoon is mourning the loss of her daughter, cruelly struck down by her petty stepbrother. Her domain's security is under threat due to difficulties meeting their trade agreements. Her angry teenage son and heir, feeling guilty for not being there to protect his sister, has become dangerously rebellious. Her loyal brother is resisting efforts to further their political stability through an arranged marriage to a cousin of their main ally, the ruler of Rhozinolm. Unfortunately, Aly's staunch supporter Queen Ellin, having eliminated the main threat to her throne, has discovered that some of her councilors are attempting to undermine her authority. The introduction of new characters and further explorations into the unique gender-based system of magic expand the depth of this trilogy, the conclusion of which is due in 2021.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)