The King Slayer By Virginia Boecker

The King Slayer by Virginia Boecker
Release Date - June 14, 2016

Publisher Website - Hachette/Little Brown
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 368 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received from publisher for an honest review**

**spoilers for The Witch Hunter**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

“I think, in time, you’ll either be my greatest mistake or my greatest victory.”

Former witch hunter Elizabeth Grey is hiding within the magically protected village of Harrow, evading the price put on her head by Lord Blackwell, the usurper king of Anglia. Their last encounter left Blackwell ruined, but his thirst for power grows stronger every day. He’s readying for a war against those who would resist his rule—namely Elizabeth and the witches and wizards she now calls her allies.

Having lost her stigma, a magical source of protection and healing, Elizabeth’s strength is tested both physically and emotionally. War always means sacrifice, and as the lines between good and evil blur once more, Elizabeth must decide just how far she’ll go to save those she loves. 

The Witch Hunter offered up a more quiet, historical feeling fantasy novel. I anticipated more of the same with its sequel. Instead, The King Slayer, offered a tension filled, action packed, blood drenched sequel that manages to retain all of what you loved about the first and more.

The title of this novel, much like the first, is a straight forward label for the main character. Elizabeth intends on being a king slayer. This sets up the plot of this novel, and much of Elizabeth's motivations. This sequel is filled with more political intrigue, strategic maneuvering and thrilling battle sequences. Anyone who wanted more action from the first novel will find that within these pages. These scenes, however, progress the story in very real ways. The story, including the battle sequences, is very character driven. The characters are all given their own motivations, and this ensures a complex set up leading into the final confrontation. Secret plans, double crosses, and hidden agendas all serve to make this novel a gripping one from start to finish.

Elizabeth is strong in her own way. She is weaker, physically at least, as she no longer has her stigma that there is a strength of character that shines through. She is willing to sacrifice everything, including her life, for those she cares about. She's an impressive heroine and one who remains steadfast when her entire life has been shifted. She's the type of character that you effortlessly care about simply because of her tenacity and inner strength.

The romance was one of my favourite parts of the book. It plays a quieter part of the story, but is also vital. It's not showy or filled with bold declarations but there is a underlying certainty that both of them would do anything for the other. It is not an easy romance. There are times where it is messy and intense. There are plenty of trials that they face but the relationship itself is one of the bright spots in the novel.

There is plenty of bloodshed in this, possible, finale. Virginia Boecker ensures that we don't feel relaxed within the story. Everyone is in danger, and the threat is very well. It ensures a taunt tension that only tightens as the ending approaches. Nobody leaves this novel unscathed and only ensures to create a feeling of high risk and consequences. It's the type of story that surprises you, makes your heart skip a beat, and at times leaves you on edge because you've come to care about these characters.

A satisfying ending to this story with enough of a opening for Elizabeth's story to continue if Virginia Boecker is so inclined. This is a story of consequences and actions. It is a story of coming to terms with having your world turned upside down, and the lengths someone will go to out of a feeling of responsibility and love. It is also a story of forging your own path to happiness and grabbing it for yourself. I am sure that I am not alone in waiting eagerly for whatever Virginia Boecker writes next.