Review: Queen of Tomorrow (Stolen Empire #2) by Sherry D. Ficklin

 Queen of Tomorrow
(Stolen Empire #2)

by Sherry D. Ficklin

July 14, 2015

280 pages

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Goodreads Summary:

Sophie—now Catherine, Grand Duchess of Russia—had a tough first year at Imperial Court. Married at sixteen to Grand Duke Peter, heir to the throne, and settled in their own palace, things are finally looking up. As a new day dawns, she thinks only of securing her future, and the future of their country, during one of the greatest political upheavals of her time. Fighting desperately against forces trying to depose the Empress Elizabeth and put the young Prince Ivan on her throne, Sophie soon finds herself in the middle of a war brewing between her beloved Prussia, and her new empire. But even as she navigates the fragile political landscape, she quickly realizes that she has only begun to discover the tangled web of deceit and infidelity woven over the lavish court of Oranienbaum Palace.

When a strange and delicate alliance forms between the young couple, she glimpses a future of happiness, only to see it lost in a moment at the hands of those who still seek to end her life—and prevent her reign. Out of favor with the empress and running out of options, Sophie will have to sacrifice her own innocence on the altar of Russia if she is to save the nation, and herself. To survive, she will have to do the unthinkable, betray those closest to her and become something greater and more dangerous than she ever imagined she could be… a queen.

Review

It's official, I'm in love with the Stolen Empire trilogy! Queen of Someday blew me away and now Queen of Tomorrow has taken my heart. I'm afraid to think of what Queen of Always will do to me. But seriously, I will embrace the pain, the thrills and whatever gets tossed my way. Nothing but love for this breathtaking trilogy!

Can we just take a moment first to appreciate the absolutely gorgeous cover? Both covers in the trilogy so far have been so stunning I'm dying to see the third one! It will definitely be a feast for the eyes once we get to line the three books up side by side! *dreamy eyes*

Sophie, now known as Catherine, has just settled into her new life as Grand Duchess of Russia when she receives word that her place in court is being threatened. The timing couldn't have been worst as this also happens just as she's reached a tentative balance in her relationship with Peter. We're taken on a whirlwind of events as Catherine struggles to navigate the politics while keeping herself sane and overcoming numerous heartbreaks. Still full of intrigue, the story takes you on highs and lows of what it means to have power and how to maintain and survive the harsh realities that come with it.

Queen of Tomorrow should come with a warning label because it is not for the faint-hearted. Catherine goes through some pretty awful things. The cruelty and brutality she faced were no small jokes. I was truly appalled. If previous circumstances hadn't hardened and prepared her I'm not sure how she could've pulled through. I was pretty much in awe of her ability to endure. Her father definitely taught her well! "Things have to hurt before they can heal, that is the way of life." (eARC, Loc 1464). Such a resilient girl that has my complete respect. She deserves the world.

My small complaint was how fast the story flew by (yes, that's a problem :P). Before I had time to fully absorb every detail, I was on the last page. I felt like I had read everything yet nothing. Something felt off. Maybe it's because the feelings all hit later on at once. Though there's really no denying how intense some parts of the story were!

Ms. Ficklin's ability to pull you into the story is like no others. Even now, I find it hard to stop thinking about Catherine and what's coming next for her. I know that it very well might break my heart but I will be welcoming it with open arms. My need for Queen of Always is strong!

*I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinion are my own and not affected in any way. All quotes were taken from the Advance Review Copy I received.