The Rightful Queen

Honestly, this was such a behemoth of a book, with the many plot lines and characters, I honestly think I need to re-read it to write an accurate review since there was so much going on!

That being said, I definitely liked this second book in the series better than the first. I thought the actual plot in this one flowed better. So even if you were kind of meh on the first book, it’s worth reading this one!

Full review to come!

**Full review to be posted to Goodreads, my blog, NetGalley, and Amazon closer to publication date!**

This has been one of my most highly anticipated releases ever since I read The Empire's Ghost and it was such a fantastic sequel! I loved reuniting with all the old characters and meeting new ones, and I love seeing where Steiger is taking the plot.

Talk about epic! The Rightful Queen by author Isabelle Steiger is the second book in the Paths of Lantistyne series and like the first it feeds my every desire for high tension fantasy filled with twisty maneuvering and characters to love and loathe. The world grows richer, the plotting of the characters deepens and darkens.

This part has a touch more adult tones that the last, but in general the same feel. It is the kind of story that commands your attention, as the moves taking place are both subtle and overt and you get so caught up that even have to pause to sleep or eat is a struggle... I seriously growled when the phone rang.

If you enjoyed fantasy along the lines of GOT this is a series you'll want to get lost in. Make sure you start at part one as you'll need/want to know the motivating factors of everyone. I highly recommend this for fans of epic high fantasy. I hope there is more from Isabelle Steiger soon.

3.5- The Rightful Queen continues the epic tale that began in The Empire’s Ghost. If you enjoyed book one, you will absolutely enjoy The Rightful Queen. I would not recommend picking up The Rightful Queen without having read The Empire’s Ghost first. As the plot thickens, alliances are formed and betrayals are merciless. The threads binding the large cast of characters together are still evident, even as tensions rise and secrets are revealed.

Steiger shows significant growth as a writer as she continues to unravel the tangled plot that she has woven. Parts of this book really worked for me and others did not. I struggled with pacing and momentum in the middle, but I trusted all would be made clear in the end. It mostly was, though much of this book felt like it was setting itself up for book three. With such a complicated story, the writing wrestled with telling more than showing, mainly in terms of character dialogue. That said, there were sections of dialogue that made me positively grin with delight! The characters are devious, conspiring, and courageous. One of my favorite parts of this book was the flashbacks where more is revealed about the experiences that shaped certain characters.

This is not a light read, but if you commit to it you are in for a compelling and intense story. If you enjoy Game of Thrones, twisted politics, and complex characters, then you will definitely want to check out this series, Paths of Lantistyne. The Rightful Queen releases July 21, 2020. Thank you to Isabelle Steiger, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Is it possible to like this book even more than the first one? Steiger has created such a fun world with dynamic characters and so many twists and turns.

The Rightful Queen picks up right where we left off in the first book. We get the same cast of characters, but we also get so much more than that. We get new characters, new plot lines, and even more questions. The plot dances around to different areas of the world, but it's fun to see how they're connected (and how they might later come together!). My favorite character is still Arianrod, but a few others are itching to steal my heart.

This book is for people who enjoy massive world building and a lot of characters (think Game of Thrones!). I didn't find it hard to keep track of all of the characters, but it's definitely not an easy and quick read. It has a lot of great plot points, plot twists, and character relationships. It's not the kind of book I could sit down and read in a day, but not because I didn't thoroughly enjoy it.

I would highly recommend this series to fantasy lovers who enjoy complex fantasies. I've found myself fully invested in the characters and I love where the plot is going. Definitely a must read in my opinion!

This one took me some time to get into. I'll be honest and say that I'm guessing it's mostly my fault since I didn't reread the first book before starting this one. Nevertheless, : The fantasy world of The Rightful Queen continued to impress and engage me.

There are a lot of things that happen in this story and I won't spoil it for anyone. There's some swoons and heartbreak and laughs and it's just a rollercoaster. Steiger excelled in writing wondrously complex characters. No one was inherently evil, but everyone had a motive behind their actions. The plot though, oh man. Political intrigue is off the charts in this, and it's oh so good. This book is filled to the brim with action, tension, drama and moments that make your heart hurt. This book is everything I'd want in a fantasy book (and some aspects, more than I could've hoped for).

There were a few things I didn't see coming and while I would have like a little more from the ending, it was pretty satisfying.

If you are a reader of epic fantasy or enjoyed watching Game of Thrones and want to read a book like it, then I think you will really enjoy The Rightful Queen by Isabelle Steiger. This is the second book in the Paths of Lantistyne, and unlike other series, I really recommend that you read the first book, The Empire’s Ghost, before diving into this one. If it’s been awhile since you’re read The Empire’s Ghost then I also highly recommend that you read the list of characters at the beginning of The Rightful Queen to help you remember the characters… unless you have a great memory, then you may not need to, but I definitely did!!

Steiger begins right where the first book ended and continues to weave various characters into each other’s paths while keeping others apart when all you want for them is to meet up again. There are events that are happening in about four different regions and they all tie together, some of the adventures come together in this book, while Steiger writes up even more circumstances that will carry us into the next book. To me, this makes for an excellent writer, someone who can manipulate the story seamlessly and leave the reader wanting more.
Another thing that is great about this epic fantasy series is the female characters not only being in true power, but not being written into the story scantily dressed and only waiting around in the wings as a love interest. Having read epic fantasy since the 90’s I read a lot of books where this happened, and I didn’t even realize it since this was the only type of story that was available, or at least that I knew about.

Another cool thing, not only is Steiger introducing us to new characters, but she even gives us a new plot line in this book. Not just a subplot, but something entirely new from the first book. And I love the direction it is going. A new mythology that I am interested to see how it plays out and if it will end up crossing into any religions/myths that I am aware of.

I highly recommend The Rightful Queen (and The Empire’s Ghost), and since epic fantasies take longer to write then other genres, I will be patiently waiting for book three… hopefully not as long as for George R. R. Martin’s next book. ;)

Wonderful continuation of the story, great storytelling and world building I definitely look forward to what’s next. I would definitely recommend this read but make sure your read the first book in the series otherwise you might be a little lost but it was a great book as well

The Rightful Queen by author Isabelle Steiger is the second book in the Paths of Lantistyne series and like the first it feeds my every desire for high tension fantasy filled with twisty maneuvering and characters to love and loathe. The world grows richer, the plotting of the characters deepens and darkens.

This part has a touch more adult tones that the last, but in general the same feel. It is the kind of story that commands your attention, as the moves taking place are both subtle and overt and you get so caught up that even have to pause to sleep or eat is a struggle... I seriously growled when the phone rang.

If you enjoyed fantasy along the lines of GOT this is a series you'll want to get lost in. Make sure you start at part one as you'll need/want to know the motivating factors of everyone. I highly recommend this for fans of epic high fantasy. I hope there is more from Isabelle Steiger soon.

I enjoyed "The Rightful Queen" much more than I did "The Empires Ghost". The character development was much better - both for existing characters, and those that were added to the second book. I also thought the plots of the various characters were much better laid out and had better purpose than the first book.

"The Rightful Queen" had some very good adventure sub-plots that kept me engaged. I particularly liked the addition of the Adora character, the fact that she was conflicted over her situation, and her growth through the course of the book. I also appreciated that Marceline's role was expanded upon and that she was much better developed in the second book.

Going into the second book I wasn't sure that I would continue the series, but now that I've finished it I look forward to the third.

I HAVE FALLEN HEAD OVER HILLS FOR THIS SERIES.

A few things to keep in mind before you pick up this series:
- Very large cast of characters,
- Highly political,
- Very character driven,
- Slow build up

If you aren't a fan of anything I listed above, this series isn't for you.

The first 50% of the book didn't feel as good as the first book felt to me, so I was a bit worried that this 2nd installment was going to disappoint me. Thankfully that wasn't the case. The rest of the book was excellent!
The world expends significantly in the sequel, as does character development. There are many new additions to the cast but they all server a purpose. This 500+ page installment left me craving more and I really wish I had the 3rd book in my hands already!

Title: The Rightful Queen
Author: Isabelle Steiger
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4 out of 5

The Rightful Queen returns readers to the territories of Lantistyne. Imperator Elgar has brought war to the continent once again, and the rogues of the Dragon’s Head, once forced into his service, are scattered to the winds, wracked by tragedy and struggling to reunite.

While a cornered King Kelken grows increasingly desperate, Arianrod Margraine, the brilliant but outmanned marquise of Esthrades, devises a plan to stretch Elgar’s forces thin and turn the tide of battle in their favor. But when the sheltered queen of Issamira is driven from her throne by a long-simmering plot and the use of forbidden magic, Arianrod faces an even more pressing crisis.

Adora Avestri is more than the rightful queen of Issamira, more even than the key to defeating Elgar on the field—she has drawn the attention of beings older than Lantistyne itself, who possess hidden knowledge Arianrod has long desired. But if the queen and the marquise hope to survive long enough to learn it, Adora must find the strength to claim her birthright once and for all, and Arianrod must match wits and magic with a foe she has never before encountered: an equal.

I haven’t read the first book in this series. Sometimes, that’s not a problem at all. Sometimes, it’s impossible. This time…I should have read the first book—it would have made getting the politics straight and keeping the characters sorted out much easier—but I was still able to enjoy this book.

I enjoyed the diverse cultures and characters—no cookie-cutter types here. I was intrigued by all the storylines, which is unusual for me with an ensemble cast, but I enjoyed reading them all. The cultures where quite varied and detailed, and I was fully immersed in the world and the story.

Isabelle Steiger lives in New York. The Rightful Queen is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

This is the first book I read in this series and I think it's engrossing and entertaining.
I had no great issues with the characters or the plot and it didn't take a long to be hooked by the story.
The world building and the characters are interesting and I liked the storytelling.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

The Rightful Queen is the sequel to The Empire’s Ghost and continues the story of all of our characters going on their different journeys, trying to defeat Elgear who wants to conquer all their countries.

I enjoyed this much more than the first book in the series. The characters I liked really fell into place here and I kept falling in love with some a lot! I still think there is next to none in pacing, but still things happen in the “small plots”. I did enjoy myself more, but still struggled with the writing. I love the see the magic come out and other parts of the story grow! I just feel like how we ended here was where we should have ended in book 1 lol! I would recommend this for fantasy fans, tho! 3/5 stars.

A very interesting book, with the dramas that take place in a faraway kingdom. Lantistyne Territory has witnessed the war that Emperor Elgar caused. The members of Dragon's Head have had to take up arms again. King Kelken is increasingly desperate to protect himself. Arianrod Margraine is the Marquise of Esthrades, she schemes to strengthen Elgar's troops to win the battle. On the other hand, the Queen of Issamira is separated from the throne by a plan that includes the use of forbidden magic. Arianrod faces a very complex crisis that will require her intelligence and skills to be able to solve it. Adora Avestri is more than the true queen of Issamira, she is the key to defeating Elgar in this dreadful war. I liked that the author narrated the story through different points of view including constant dialogues between the characters. The story intrigued me throughout the whole book, the narration was entertaining and engaging. Another aspect that I loved was that the author emphasizes Adora, who has very difficult challenges to overcome. I thank NetGalley and StMartin's Press for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

The Rightful Queen is the second installment from Isabelle Steiger's Paths of Lantistyne series. I thought it was a good read and am giving it four stars.

this was a great sequel to the first book, the characters were still great and I feel that they built on the first book. I hope there is more from the series.

Second in the series this book is a little more of a slow burn, but no less engaging. In fact the writing is certainly better than the first and the richness of the world makes the reader feel as if they are there in the book. One of the most notable things about this series is the richness of the female characters in particular. I think those of us who have fallen in love with this series will be impatiently waiting for book 3.

This is the second book in Isabelle Steiger's fantasy series. Having read and enjoyed book one, I really appreciated this second installment. The book is full of twists and turns, and I loved how the characters grew throughout this book. The one criticism that i would give is that, like all high fantasys, the cast of characters was huge! It was hard to keep track at times, but it all started to make sense as the connections between them grew.

This is book 2 of the Paths of Lantistyne Series. In a tale of magic, intrigue, war, and battles for power, this is a sweeping tale of a land searching for peace. War is once again waging on the continent, and Adora Avestri must seize power once and for all.

The Rightful Queen by Isabelle Steiger
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This is the second book in a new fantasy series. The first book is The Empire’s Ghost.
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This fantasy has a lot going on. There are multiple countries on the continent, ruled by various people. One country has an ambitiour ruler named Elgar, who appears determined to conquer the entire continent. There is hints of magic, which existed years ago, coming back. There are legends of a group of rulers called The Ninists, that I am anxious to know more about. And throughout it all there is a group of friends who hang out in a tavern that we follow and I kind of love them.
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I really enjoyed this second book, and have new favorite characters that weren’t mentioned much or at all in the first book. I am looking forward to more from this series whenever I can get it!!
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The world building in this is done very well. Just keep in mind that world building takes time and fantasy books don’t read the same as quick thrillers. You’re in it for the long haul and at the end you’ll have an amazing rich world that you wish you could live in and be devastated that it’s over.
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4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really liked the things that happened in this story and the set ups for what could happen next have me really excited.

Complex, deadly, and with a cast of compelling characters, this is the perfect fix if you love Game of Thrones or anything by Mark Lawrence.

The Rightful Queen Paths of Lantistyne Book 2 by Isabelle Steiger

539 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: July 21, 2020

Fiction, Historical Fiction, Sci Fi, Fantasy, Sword, Sorcery, Magic, Mages

Imperator Elgar is trying to conquer more lands within Lantistyne. Newly crowned King Kelken who just turned twelve, sneaks out his castle and arrives on the doorstep of Arianrod Margraine. Adora Avestri, the rightful queen of Issamira is declared dead. She needs the strength of a powerful mage to beat her opponent. Luckily, she just happens to know one.

The book has a steady pace, the characters are developed, and it is written in the third person point of view. This is the second book in the Paths of Lantistyne series. There is magic and sword fighting galore. I love the stone bombs and other creative forms of magic. If you like fantasy kingdom stories, you will enjoy reading this book.

This is an amazing book that will grab you and you are unable to put it down till you finish the last page. It moves along at a great pace making for an enjoyable read. The characters are awesome and you will fall in love with them no matter what happens and the story grabs you and keeps you reading till the end. This book is a must read, no doubt about it.

I have been provided with a review copy of The Rightful Queen from NetGalley for an impartial review. This is the second book in Paths of Lantistyne series and I just loved getting to reenter this world. This book was just so easy to get lost in. I completely got lost in the story and I just loved getting to see these new characters come together. I just absolutely love this story and I just didn’t want to put it down. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

This book was so much stronger than the first in the series. Loved the political development and how the characters worked together. These series are comforting, not many of them died and you get attached to every single one of them. Loved how female rulers are represented, with all the challenges they are still facing due to their gender but their strong ability to overcome them.
I still had issues following the story with multiple POVs being put in one chapter, however now that I knew the main cast it was so much easier to follow.
Can't wait to read the last book and find out what happens!

I (yet again) requested the third book in a growing series. I just plowed through the first two chonkers and call me crazy, but I'm loving these.

Paths of Lantistyne is an RPG inspired intricately faceted epic fantasy series. Magic is a mythical tale that whispers at the edges of the plot. War is knocking on the doors of neighboring lands and political ploys are digging graves and counting coin.

The Rightful Queen easily passes the 500 page mark and while that may seem daunting, it expertly held my attention. Picking up at where the first leaves off and building on the paths of the various characters in book one. You can see Steiger's growth not only in the world building but the writing intricacies of the narrative, deceptions and follow through of each diverging line. The edition of LGBTQ representation fit nicely too. The reveals for the history of some of our prime characters was just excellent. At this point I'm running out of adjectives to describe how much I'm enjoying these.

Up next is The Risen City releasing the 20th of Dec. I cannot wait to see where Steiger takes these characters and what will be revealed next. Thank you St Martins Press for the gifted digital copies!

The Rightful Queen picks up right where Empire’s Ghost left off and is much easier to get into now that so much of the world and characters have been established. I also found the writing and flow to be more cohesive which made it easier to really get into and stay in the story.

While it does pick up right away with somewhat less info dumping, it is just such a massive story with the number of main characters that it is jumping between, that it was a kind of odd duality of some of the individual sections feeling fast-paced and having some urgency, but the story overall being a very slow burn.

One thing I was hoping for after reading the first book is that the characters would get a little more developed this time, given more layers and depth…and I do feel like that mostly happened. It is a large cast so realistically there’s only so much space to devote to really getting deeply into everyone but I definitely had clear favorites that I was especially rooting for by the end and I’m looking forward to diving straight into book three to see how everything wraps up.

I am reviewing the entire series because I struggled through book one but was very glad that I continued the series because I really enjoyed books 2 and 3. I normally DNF books that I am struggling through but I really enjoyed the world building in this one and the writing is lovely. The issue I ran into in book one was that there were far too many POV's. While there are often a lot of POV's in fantasy books this one had too many too early, which meant I didn't care about most of them. I will also note that this is a series where you immediately need the next book because everything is left so open ended. Books 2 and 3 were very well done. The characters were far more fleshed out and had a lot more depth and likeability. I loved the world building, the intrigue and the writing. If you're a fan of fantasies this is a series worth checking out!