Arca

  I received a copy of this release from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Arca

Author: G.R. Macallister 

Publisher: Gallery / Saga Press

Release Date: 3.7.23

Publisher’s Summary 

Return to the Five Queendoms in the sequel to Scorpica, a sweeping epic fantasy that Rebecca Roanhorse called “ambitious and engaging,” in which a centuries-long peace is shattered in a matriarchal society when a decade passes without a single girl being born.

The Drought of Girls has ended, but the rift it broke open between the Queendoms is not so easily healed. Political tensions roil the senate of Paxim, where Queen Heliane vows to make her son Paulus the nation’s first ruling King or die trying. Scorpican troops amass on the border of Arca, ready to attack. And within Arca itself, its young, unready queen finds her court a nest of vipers and her dreams besieged by a mysterious figure with unknown intentions.

As iron and magic clash on the battlefield and powerful women scheme behind the scenes, danger and violence abound. Can anyone stop chaos from ripping the Queendoms apart?

My Review

I thought this was a strong 2nd book for the series but I didn't love it as much as the first book. I think this is because the first book (as with any series) introduces all the characters and settings, but the second book settles in a bit more. I am assuming this series will have 5 books (each named after one of the queendoms) but that doesn't seem to mean that each book will focus solely on the queendom of its title. This book is pretty equally divided between Scorpica (and their outpost in Godsbones,) Paxim, and Arca. I was expecting this book to focus more on the queendom of Arca and Eminel's powers, and while those were prominent storylines, I was expecting them to be the main storylines. I wasn't expecting so much about Scorpica again since that was the first book. There are so many fighting and battle scenes in this book that made me lose some interest. I really wanted more magic and less military! My opinion is largely based on unmet expectations so that's not really the book's fault, but mine. Overall, I enjoyed reading this and will definitely continue with the series.