Genre: YA Fantasy
Published: December 5, 2023
Print length: 334 pages
Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Kindle Unlimited? No
Series: Throne of Anguish Duology Book #1

Synopsis:

Getting captured by the king can ruin your whole rebellion.

Valine Polaris was just a child when Vukan murdered her mother the queen and stole the throne she was meant to inherit. Since then, she’s spent years gathering a band of rebels and plotting to retake her kingdom. When an ambush on a royal supply wagon turns out to be a trap, she becomes a prisoner of the tyrant she’s been fighting against. Shifting strategies, she maneuvers to win covert allies in the court, still determined to avenge her mother’s death and regain the crown. All the while, she struggles with guilt about the sacrifices others make on her behalf and doubts about her own fitness to rule. What’s the true price of winning the throne, and is Valine willing to pay it in the end?


What I thought:

Throne of Anguish grabbed me at first with the action of the rebel attack on a supply wagon that goes disastrously wrong, and with the character of Valine, the kind of heroine I love: a badass who doesn’t take crap from anyone, sometimes to her own detriment. It was easy to get behind her quest to retake her stolen throne and take revenge on her mother’s killer. I could relate to her struggle for self-control, torn between her impulse to openly defy her captors and the need to play politics and quietly marshal support behind the scenes.

As the story progressed, it delved into some deeper themes that are often glossed over in YA fantasies. It becomes apparent that Valine’s mother was neither a great ruler nor a great parent, and she questions whether she will be a more capable ruler. She endures pain herself (there’s a scene where she’s whipped that is powerful but also brutal to read). Worse, she’s put in situations where she is truly helpless and must watch those around her suffer and sometimes die because of her actions and ambition. Valine, and the reader, are forced to grapple with the question of what makes a leader worthy of having her followers fight and die for her.

Magic doesn’t become a major part of the story until the second half of the book. The fight scenes were well done with well thought-out tactics and a good blend of physical and magical attacks. I’m a huge fan of magical creatures, especially felines, so I adored the ice leopards that act as companions and protectors of royalty.

Throne of Anguish is labeled as a “Christian fantasy,” and it does reference some religious ideas that broadly echo Christian concepts including a single all-powerful “Creator” with a mysterious master plan. This is different from how religion is typically treated in fantasy, with pagan polytheistic systems being more common. For me, the religious aspects never felt overwhelming or got in the way of the story, and they provided some grounding for Valine’s struggles with loyalty, betrayal and trust.

This is the first of two books in a completed duology. The main story in this one wraps up satisfyingly, but an incident at the end creates a cliffhanger leading into the second book.

Overall, Throne of Anguish succeeds on two levels: as an adventure tale with a compelling main character, and as a thought-provoking look at the pain, responsibility and guilt that come with leadership.


Who will love it:

• Fans of epic fantasy adventures with a feisty heroine, well-rendered battles and magical creatures.
• Readers who appreciate fantasy with added depth where characters deal with serious moral and spiritual questions.
• Those who want, or at least don’t mind, a fantasy world where religion has obvious parallels with Christianity.

Favorite quotes:

“Unfortunately, plans sometimes don’t go… as planned.”

“Some call me stupid, some call me brave. I’m not dead yet, so maybe I’m a bit of both.”

“The court was in a sad state when a nonfatal stabbing was considered an uneventful day.”

“Forgiveness does not replace consequences, but the punishment will be carried out in the name of justice, not of revenge.”


About the author:
Bex Gil has been an avid reader since childhood, and when chronic illness took her health and dreams, writing became a solace. She strives to encourage and comfort others who suffer, whether that is writing characters who are fighting with you in the trenches, or creating magical worlds in which your problems are forgotten.

She currently resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, parents, and dog. She loves video games, walks by the river, and learning languages such as Korean and Mandarin.

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