Fourth Prince Kai, a Demon inhabiting a human body, is back. After unraveling the plot that left him and his companions trapped and separated, they continue on in their trek, but now to research the Hierarchs and to make sure they can never come back to destroy and lord over everyone ever again.

We pick up where we left off in Witch King, and continue the style of switching back and forth between past and present. It was easier to dive into this one than it was the first one (it took me half the book to get into Witch King). The heavy (and confusing) political side was rough for me, especially in the first book, but lingered a bit still in the Queen Demon. I found myself skimming some sections because the politics were hard for me to grasp. Because we picked up right at the end of Witch King, it didn't take as long for me to be fully immersed into the story, and I could tell generally where the plot was going early on.

While I really enjoy the characters and the found family aspect, I felt like I wanted more of that. It felt like it took too long to get to the part where they became more than allies in the past sections, and the present parts just seemed to assume you knew their history that knit them together into a family. I did really like the climax and the ending, and it left me wanting to continue the series, which I wasn't sure about until I got there.

I rated it 3.75/5 rounded up to 4.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the ARC!

I really enjoyed reading Queen Demon as the sequel to Witch King. Each of the main characters continued to be memorable and I found myself invested in how the story would unfold. Martha Wells is skilled with building complex worlds that simultaneously feel real, and this story was no different.

Thank you to Michael at Tor who provided me with an ARC copy through NetGalley.

I was incredibly excited to see this tile in my inbox, as having read and loved Witch King, this went immediately on my TBR and pre-order lists upon being announced.

Queen Demon picks up right where Witch King left off – both in the past and in the present. The prose is similar in that while it may feel like a slow read, it’s actually pretty fast paced, as there is always something happening. Questions aren’t always answered right away, and by the end you’re still left with questions but this is very clearly not the end of the series. (And I want to know what the horses really are – because not all of the horses are horses as we know them. I’m sure some are cats.)

Everything we learned about this world is expanded upon. In the past, the Rising World is beginning to come together, and we learn more about the Arike and Bashasa in particular as well as being introduced to the Dustwitches. In the present we learn more about Bashat, why Kai’s relationship with him has become what it is, and more of the overall politics of the Rising World. And there’s a clear difference between the experiences/attitudes of the people who lived through the war and those who only know of it.

Martha writes her characters so well and in relatable ways. The relationships among the core group is very real and complex, loving even when they’re in disagreement over an issue. And there are just some amazing emotional gut punches delivered.

It’s a great read, a great continuation of the series, and I look forward to whatever comes next.

This is the sequel to the Witch King. The fantasy world the author has created is quite complex. I found it helpful to read the Witch KIng first.
Kai, a demon who inhabits a mortal body, has a new quest. Dahin, one of his close circle, whose interest in archives and artifacts has led him to a remnant of their old enemy, the Hierarchs. Dahin believes he has found the source of their origin and power. Kai and his circle fear a return of these old enemies so they join Dahin on the quest to find and destroy this remnant. There are others searching as well. What will be the outcome.

Queen Demon by Martha Wells is a sequel that slows things down and allows us to explore the world we've gotten to know in Witch King. With this sequel we get the deep dive many of us hoped for!

We meet the usual misfits (Kai & co.) whilst getting to know them better.. and work through their morally flexible demeanor. One thing Wells did in the first and continued in this sequel (brilliantly might I add) are the nuanced and almost alive characters and their relationships. They arent perfect, but they are "good".

Queen Demon is not a mere continuation of our previous quest with Kai & co. - it is a deeper, richer and more vivid exploration. It's everything sequels in movies tend to never be, better.

Thank you to Martha Wells for giving us more background and foreground of this world - it was everything I needed! Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for making it possible.

Past and present collide in Martha Wells' Queen Demon—where a peace painstakingly rebuilt after a devastating war is once again threatened by corruption and deceit. Will history repeat itself, or will Kai and his band of heroes uncover the latest threat to the Rising World?

Queen Demon continues where Witch King left off: Kai is reunited with his lost family members but facing the potential aftermath of a political coupe and the failed assassination attempt on his life. Instead of a well-deserved rest, Kai and the gang are immediately thrust into a race to locate the last Hierarch's Well, with deadly consequences should they fail. In alternating chapters, we glimpse Kai's part in the Hierarch's War and his growing bond with his found family, especially Bashasa, Dahin, and the witches. The switch from past to present keeps the storytelling tense and the flashes of the rebellion provide needed context for what's happening in current times.

Martha Wells is a true master at building ties of friendship and family among her outcast characters, a trait I adore in both her Murderbot Diaries series and the Rising World books. The events of Queen Demon intensify the links between Kai's allies and enemies, while maintaining the underlying thread of hope even in the darkest times. The characters are both loveable and frustrating (just like any family) and the worldbuilding is fantastically immersive. Queen Demon was a treat to read, and with a cliffhanger like this one I expect Kai won't have long to rest before he must save the world yet again.

I would recommend this series to fans of Robert Jackson Bennett, Katherine Addison, and Ann Leckie--all of whom write worlds that thrust you into them and dare you to find your way out. In that line of thought, I strongly suggest beginning with Witch King before reading Queen Demon (or you will be lost at sea...trust me on this).

Thanks to Tor and Netgalley for providing an ARC of Queen Demon. My review is, as always, truthful and unbiased, and I hope it helps introduce readers to new books they will love!

Witch King is my favorite book by Martha Wells, so I was eagerly waiting for this sequel and it did not disappoint me. Much like Witch King, our time is split between the present and the past. In the present, Kai and company are investigating scholar Dahin's research into the Hierarchs. In the past, we see how Kai earned the title of "Witch King." This definitely feels like the middle book a trilogy, where much of the action is in developing character and plot to be resolved later, but there were also arcs that felt complete and true within that. I was obsessed with the sections in the past in particular and loved seeing how characters' relationships that are set in Witch King actually evolved over time. The world-building remains dense and intricate, the characters compelling. Queen Demon has cemented this series as being an all-time favorite for me. Now to wait for the third book! I feel so lucky to have gotten the chance to read this early. Many, many thanks to Tor and Netgalley for the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Like this book, you’ll have to be patient to get to the good stuff. Queen Demon has a very, very slow start. The first 40% is almost entirely set-up, taking its sweet time to add depth to the supporting cast and explore more of Wells’ rich world, which draws from a diverse blend of real-world cultures. I struggled for the first 80%. As with the first book, I found the past sections far more engaging than the present ones. And, as with the first book, I felt like something was missing on the character front; the emotional disconnect from Ziede and especially Tahren, Dahin, Ramad, et al., even as their backstories were fleshed-out, remained. Also, a glossary of terms at the back would’ve helped enormously. For most of the first half of the book, I knew what was going on maybe half of the time. What are the key differences between expositors and hierarchs and servant-nobles and witches and immortal blessed and spirits and demons—and their various magic and power systems—again? The reminders and explanations came quite late, somewhere between 63% and 90% of the way in.

The ending, though. Utterly devastating (just as it was in Witch King). These are some of the best closing chapters I’ve read in a while. Everything came together perfectly. If you liked book 1, you’ll like this too.

Queen Demon by Martha Wells. a good second book in the series. Kai is back and still fighting for a new world against the hierophants.

Another winner by Wells but that's not a surprise given her immense writing chops and the quality of her entire catalog. This is definitely more of a slow burn fantasy than her others but I kind of like that and it's a refreshing departure from the usual breakneck action fantasy that I usually read. This one is filled with political machinations and subtle magic that elevates the story and makes it all the richer for it. A more complete review will be forthcoming on the blog once I get my thoughts together. But until then just know that I really enjoyed it and you should definitely pick up both books in this series!

This picks up right where the first one left off. I was once again sucked right in! I loved spending more time with these characters. I continued to enjoy the dual timelines. This felt fast paced and full of action right from the start. I didn't realized there was going to be more after Witch King but I hope there are even more coming!

As per usual, Martha Wells delivers a fantastic story surrounded by weirdness and heart. I really did not expect a sequel to this series, but I am glad that she delivered!

I'm completely fascinated-mainly by Kai, but also Ziede, Tahren, Sonja and the newly introduced dustwitches. I will admit, I was still a bit confused at times. This book just felt like learning a whole other language, but the second half took off. Things got exciting and I was completely sucked in. I enjoyed the wild ride and I can already tell this will be a series I come back to again and again. I'm looking forward to the next installment!

Queen Demon picks up right where Demon King left off - the story of the escape from the Summer Palace and beginning of the war against the Heirophants parallels events and locations happening in the present. In the Demon King, Kai had negotiated a promise from Dahin that in the future, if Dahin wanted to go off to do something dangerous that Kai would go, no questions asked. After Kai has barely had a chance to settle things with Bashat's dreams of empire, Dahin invokes that pledge to drag Kai and his family back into intrigue and danger - where did the Heirophants come from and is the war really done?

Having characters with different aging patterns makes for complex interactions over time - Kai is still struggling with grief over Bashasa's death, and his actions from that time have an effect on Bashat in the present. We don't learn how the underearth was breached after the war, but we learn that there is more to the tale to come in future books. The author also matter of factly explores gender as a matter of how people wear their clothes, wear a particular tattoo, etc in such a way that it just is a background within this world; after all, Kai thinks of himself as male, yet Enna was a beloved female of his tribe, and Talamines dressed as a male. Kai knows nothing of his current body's other background, so Kai is a blend of what he knew of his time as Kaienna, his memories and lessons learned from Talamines, all wrapped up in the body of a male brought along to be a sacrifice by people who wanted to enslave Kai. So many lives lived for one soul. It's a great follow-up book with a complete plot, yet you learn enough to know that another book surely will come - it'll be exciting to see where the author takes the tale.

Many thanks to Tor Publishing Group for this providing an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

An *excellent* sequel to Witch King! I cannot wait for the third book (and hopefully more) in this series. Martha Wells’ fantasy is very different in some respects from her sci-fi. In The Murderbot Diaries, the titular character has very little interest in how much of technology and society is run. This works perfectly for its story arc. In her fantasy however, the world building is complex, fascinating, and integral to the story. We learned a great deal about the Rising World in book one, and Queen Demon delves even further. Demon Kai continues to alternate his narrative between the war against the Heirarchs some seventy years ago and the present, with the aftermath of the conspiracy from the first book still sending waves.

I actually like this one even better than Witch King. That was a solid four star read for me, but Queen Demon is absolutely 5/5. Kai in the past developing his relationships and having to deal with the loss of his entire culture and way of life is by turns heartbreaking and hopeful. Seeing him in the present and how he’s grown and changed, for better or for worse, and how his friends who are his family have grown together or apart is just as good. I also love the storyline, both past and present. As with book one, Queen Demon has a storyline that is concluded but also a larger one that is not. I need book three right now.

Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for the e-ARC! This is an honest review and has been in no way influenced by receipt of the e-ARC.

HOLY WOW. SHIT. DAMN. Okay so I was vibing with Witch King more than. most apparently, but Queen Demon blew me AWAY. While Witch King moved quite a bit slower due to the immense world-building and character work, Queen Demon was high stakes and fast from the first page. I started it a few days ago and literally couldn't stop reading. I read 50% tonight alone. 50 PERCENT IN ONE EVENING.

I adored the way we got more time with all the characters and got to see their personalities develop a bit more, especially Kai's as I know that was a sticking point for many people in Witch King. I literally gasped ALOUD at the ending twist of this one and am so eager for the next one, I don't think I can truly wait.

Seriously, if you were ambivalent about Witch King, I implore you to give this one a shot. It's SO WORTH IT.

I'm really worried I'm going to end up damning this book with faint praise: it's very good, I tore through it very quickly, and I'm definitely going to end up rereading it. If you even a little bit liked the first one, you will like this one. There is a set of people who will understand that among the highest praise I can give these books is that they are worth the time away from writing Murderbot, and that continues to be true.

Wells continues to do such a good job of giving a set of main characters who make decisions that aren't perfect, that have weaknesses and wounds, and yet are resilient and powerful. She depicts the sort of family relationships where you love the person but can't help but argue with them in an unbelievably lifelike way.

The magic systems of this world are cool, and this book expands them while being consistent with the previous one. I love the way Wells shows societies and political structures, and really lets those things inform the characters. There isn't an assumption of a default body, with skin tones and hair consistently described. It continues to be queer as hell: Kai's experiences of having a gender that does not necessarily align with the body he is currently occupying means that he talks about cultural gender markers from an outsider's point of view.

From a narrative point of view, the book does a lot of things really well. I appreciated that it maintained the parallel narratives, that we continued to get new information from the past and that those sections didn't feel like something I could or would want to skip. I've read more than one series that starts out with a parallel narrative and then goes linear (looking at you, Ancillary Sword), so I don't take that for granted. However, it did feel like a middle book of a series. It didn't have as much of the propulsive energy that the first book did, and while it advanced all the plotlines that had been opened up (and didn't delay things just so there would be more plot for a later book), it didn't have quite as strong a narrative arc as the first book did, and so didn't feel quite as punchy to me.

I've loved everything Wells has written in the last decade, and I find myself hungry for anything she puts out. I want to read where this world goes, where these characters go, and I look forwards to the chance.

Another five star Martha Wells read -- what a shocker!
Boy am I glad that I had just finished a reread of Witch King before starting this one, because the story picks up, both past and present, pretty much right where things left off in the first book. I love the dual timelines of this story, with the past being just as interesting and necessary to the understanding of the characters and the world as the present is. And I LOVED getting to see even more of Bashasa in this book, and Kai's relationship with him and the Arike. But I also adore the little family that Kai has built in present! Basically I love all of these characters and this world and I could ramble about it for ages and Im reeeaaaaaalllllyyyyy hopeful that there will be at least one more book in this series, because there is obviously still so much more story to tell.

This is as spoilery as I want to get about Martha Wells' Queen Demon, the sequel to Witch King: you will spend a great deal of time mentally screaming, "WTF? What are you DOING [character]?" This is not because anyone has been handed the idiot ball, mind. Everyone is making (what are to them) reasonable choices. It's just that these are "reasonable choices" made by extremely traumatized people who don't have the best coping mechanisms. So they make reasonable choices that only make sense to them.

The found family vibes are strong here, with some additional vibes for what you might call "strained family relationships." If you were trying to win the Internet Hugest Understatement Prize. (Dahin's desire to stab his aunt--and probably most of his relatives--continues to be valid.) In addition to Dahin and Tahren's strained relationships with their family, Kai ends up having to confront (with extremely reluctance) Bashat. It goes about as well as you are probably guessing.

The summary does a slightly better job of describing the plot this time around. (The summary for Witch King as you'll recalled, implied that Our Protagonist had been imprisoned for centuries, but we find out it's been maybe a year or less?) This created a number of false flags and red herrings while reading! Which is hopefully not what the publishers were looking for. So, just pretty much take the summary with a grain of salt.

In Queen Demon, Kai's desire to head home has been subverted by Tahren needing to speak to the Rising World Council about the conspiracy. This means riding with Tahren and Dahin's aunt, and the of the remaining members of the conspiracy. This somehow leads them into a desperate search for the location of the Hierarch's well. Also, Arnsterath and Ramad somehow attach themselves to the expedition which Kai really doesn't want.

These chapters are interspersed with chapters taking place at the very beginning of the war against the Hierarchs. Kai thought he was going to be a bodyguard! However, Bashasa had decided that Kai is going to be a general! (Well, eventually a general.) The war chapters are grimdark, with some hopeful notes. (It helps that we know they win? Because really, the Hierarchs were nasty.)

I love the snarky and mildly sarcastic humor of the characters. The humor, which is a little bleak at times really offsets the darker elements of the story. (This does not take away from those darker elements. It enhances them, if anything.) I love the banter between Kai and his family, and even the angrier exchanges Kai has with Arnsterath, Ramad and Bashat. The ending though--it's somewhat of an open ending, for reasons which you will find out. (It is not a bad ending, but it is one of those situations where you know that thematically, the author made the only possible choice--but you still hate the choice.)Overall, this was an excellent read that I'm probably going to re-read a few times in the near future. I will be making so many memes about this.

This review was based on a galley received from NetGalley.

I've come to realize what I love so, so much about this novel (and series) is that it's 2 books in 1. And both books are *equally* amazing. Each has a dynamic plot, good pacing, excellent character development, and unique world-building facets. I find the characters and the world they live in is endlessly fascinating, and Martha Wells does such a good job of giving you just enough info to keep the world slightly mysterious but understandable as you read. I genuinely cannot wait for the third book to see where she takes the story.