Book Review: The War of Two Queens by Jennifer L. Armentrout

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I walked into The War of Two Queens braced for disappointment. Book three had me convinced this series wouldn’t recover — I said so, on the record, in my Crown of Gilded Bones review — and instead I got the strongest Blood and Ash installment since the series opener. I love being wrong like this.

No premise talk beyond the vibes: it’s book four, war is no longer a rumor, and promises the earlier books made finally come due. That’s all you’re getting. This deep into a series, everything is a spoiler.

What I Loved About The War of Two Queens by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The plot twists are clever — a couple of them recontextualize choices from earlier books in ways I did not see coming, and believe me, I was trying. The character work impressed me even more. Blood and Ash has always been a fun romp with good banter, but a romp with real stakes is a different animal entirely, and this installment finally backs the charm up with consequences that feel like they cost something.

What I Didn’t Love About The War of Two Queens

Two familiar gripes, both returning from earlier books: Poppy is still a shade too overpowered for the story’s own good, and the exposition still lands heavy on the page. That combination cost it a star. It didn’t cost it any momentum — this thing is propulsive.

Final Thoughts on The War of Two Queens

A really enjoyable, propulsive read and a genuine course correction. If The Crown of Gilded Bones left you wobbling, this is the book that steadies the series — and if you’re brand new, start at the beginning with From Blood and Ash and thank me later. When you’ve finished the main arc, the prequel series is worth a look too: my review of A Shadow in the Ember covers whether the detour earns its keep.

My final score: 4 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Do I recommend this book? 👍 Yes!

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