Who's Your Author? discussion

This topic is open for discussion of Long Live the Queen by Kate Locke. Be prepared for SPOILERS.

Synopsis:
Xandra Vardan thought life would be simpler when she accepted the goblin crown and became their queen, but life has only become more complicated. Everyone -- vampires, werewolves and humans -- wants the goblins on their side, because whoever has the goblins -- wins.

Queen Victoria wants her head, Alpha wolf Vex wants her heart, and she still doesn't know the identity of the person who wanted her blood. What she does know is that a project from one of the 'secret' aristocrat labs has gotten free and she's the only one who can stop the perfect killing machine -- a sixteen year-old girl. With human zealots intent on ridding the world of anyone with plagued blood and supernatural politics taking Britain to the verge of civil war, Xandra's finding out that being queen isn't all it's cracked up to be, and if she doesn't do something fast, hers will be the shortest reign in history.

The fantastic conclusion to the series that started with the spectacular undead steampunk debut, God Save the Queen and The Queen is Dead.

I just ordered it from the library. I'm in queue but it probably won't be until next month that I get it.

I'm ridiculously excited for this book, though I'll be sad to see Xandra go. :(

What?? When did this come out? I totally missed this.

It comes out on the 19th I believe.

Oh, I thought it was coming out on the twelfth.

Brianna wrote: "Oh, I thought it was coming out on the twelfth."

You're right Brianna, I just looked. I was confusing it with World After.

So I changed the start date.

I am excited about this book!

Thoughts on Chapters 1 - 3

Warning, Spoilers Ahead...

I have been listening to the first two books to refresh the series in my mind. It's amazing how Xandra has changed from someone who is terrified and squeamish around goblins to someone who plops a corpse into the middle of a den and announces that it's dinnertime.

"And no, I didn't tell myself that to make me feel better about the situation." - I've always liked the practical side of Xandra's personality.

"My temper wasn't that terrible." - Xandra's in denial.

Vex! I love Vex and his relationship with Xandra. It's refreshing how they cut through the drama and accept each other.

"midget-leech" - I think that's the most unique description of Victoria that I've ever read.

Xandra has a crazy monster clone running loose and she almost killed Vex. It's a good think that Vex didn't die or I would have pitched a fit! I loved the way Xandra casually backhanded that surly Were while holding Vex's hand. Also, Vex continues to be made of awesome even while severely injured.

Thoughts on Chapters 4 - 7

Warning, Spoilers Ahead...

"Your Majesties, I'm sorry to break up your pissing contest, but she's moving." - I love Ethan - he's a very brave wolf.

Goblins can shift forms! Very cool.

Xandra is going to have her hands full with Alexis, the shape-shifting monster clone toddler.

If Xandra is ALexis's "mom", who's the daddy?

"...I was the one who saved her from that attack. She cursed me for not letting him kill her. She did not want to continue the pregnancy - understandably - and she blamed every last aristo for making her go through with it." - Neither are winners but I think Xandra's father has been the better parent.

The bombshells keep dropping in this book - we have a monster clone, Juliet coming out of hiding and calling for the end of Victoria, and now a new strain of the plague.

Thoughts on Chapters 8 - 11

Warning, Spoilers Ahead...


We get to hear Vardan discuss his relationship with Juliet. I still maintain that he's the better parent. I hope the book ends with Xandra being reconciled with her father.

"Your my father, I'm your daughter. What else do we need to say? I think you're an arse and you think I'm ungrateful, but at the end of the day you - are - my - father. I came to you, and no one else, because I trust you." - Love this speech.

"Just be you. If I have a problem I'll tell you, but I don't want to change you, sweetheart. I just want you to...pause every now and then." - Love Vex!

I'm downloading this one tonight.

*****Thoughts and Comments for Chapter 1-7 *********

So I do love Vex and Xandra's relationship as well and I did love the backhanded moment. You're in a den of wolves and the leader was attack by a lookalike of you and she's very lucky to not have set any off.

Interesting statement by Vex:

“And you will never give sanctuary to someone who has hurt me or mine again. I don’t ask for much, Xandra, but I will have your complete loyalty.”

I went still, my eyes opening. Shit. “Vex, I never…”

“I know.”

I was wondering for a time if Alexis had siblings? I kept wondering if one of those siblings had wondered into the plague underground. The multiple personality aspect could prove interesting.

Is she a clone or truly her daughter? They had taken her eggs and tissue. Interesting creature, however. Able to look like anyone whom she sees a picture of. Could prove hard to catch a second time. Gosh this is starting to remind me of another book,
The Girl in the Steel Corset, in that one they had someone get to the queen pretending to be the queen. That's my guess where this one is going.

Off to read again.

*****Thought and Comments for Chapter 8 - 14 *********

Sara, You listed to of my favorite quotes thus far in the book. I highlighted those on my kindle.

Here's another I highlighted:
"No one was completely good nor completely evil, and people I loved proved themselves capable of being monsters, while those who seemed so black astonished me with all their patches of light."

I like the rule of thumb explanation. I hadn't realized how that phrase had come about.

I can't believe they killed off the father, but is he truly dead? I hate that now with every story I read, I have to ask this question.

What a surprise about William. He should be King of England. I didn't see that coming. Was he one of the first to be infected and changed?

Alexis is wreaking havoc, but how can she be forced to do what they ask and what about her alternate self? Could the "midget-leech" be behind it? I would have thought British authors would have been frowned upon for referring to previous royalty in such a manner (even in fiction). I wonder where Kate is from?

I wonder who planted the poison? Could it be her sister? Perhaps Vex's cousin's son? Could Alexis disguise her scent? She hadn't before but....

Oh, almost forgot, I can't believe Alexis' father may be Vex's son. I think she should tell him.

I will be taking a break from reading the rest, but will pick up where I left off tonight.

Thoughts on Chapters 12 - 14

Warning, Spoilers Ahead...

The unknown enemy sent Alexis after Duke Vardan. Why? As a statement, a threat, or because the Duke might have information.

"To be honest, I wasn't sure if I was worried about something happening to him, or whether I just wanted to be the one who he saw when he opened his eyes. His hero." - I'm a sucker for complicated child-parent relationships in fiction. Xandra's desire to be #1 in her father's eyes was established in the first book and continues to the present even with their up and down relationship.

William is Victoria's uncle and the King of England! I did not see that coming.

I'm very disappointed with the Duke's death. I was hoping for a full reconciliation with his children. Who left the poison and why? Did the Duke have more information - if so, why did his attackers leave the body outside Vex's house?

"Father is dead, and I will bang your skulls together if either of you makes this about you." - Go Avery!

The Duke is missing? I wonder if the "poison" is causing a transformation of some type? The Vardan children inherited their funky genes from the Duke.

"Picture Vex. Lovely Vex, with that little grin of his, talking you off the ledge." - I love that Vex is Xandra's "happy place".

"She didn't get to play hero for my sister. Only I got to do that. And Val, of course." - Yes, Xandra, big brothers get to be the hero too.

Alexis took the body? Xandra thinks it was to hide the evidence but I'm standing by my transformation theory.

Sara said, "William is Victoria's uncle and the King of England! I did not see that coming."

I know, right? lol

Sara said, "I'm very disappointed with the Duke's death. I was hoping for a full reconciliation with his children. Who left the poison and why? Did the Duke have more information - if so, why did his attackers leave the body outside Vex's house?" and "Alexis took the body? Xandra thinks it was to hide the evidence but I'm standing by my transformation theory."

Yes, I was too. :( Keep hoping he'll come back to life. He is a vamp after all.

***** Thought and Comments for Chapter 15 - end *********

“It means that the poison that killed Vardan was also the same poison that killed my Albert."

So not only did Bertie want to kill his mom, but he killed his father? I can't believe he got away scott free with both.

The whole situation between Bertie and Xandra's mom seemed odd. Did she truly get involved with him willingly? I keep thinking how the Queen tried to push Xandra and her son into marriage. Was that more his idea or is the queen being overlooked in everything?

I like the transformation. I thought it funny that both William and Vex were so pleased. You gotta love them both.

I love how Xandra embraces her darker side.

I predicted that the cousin was the mole. *whispers to Sara* Okay so I also suggested it could be Xandra's sister to, but we won't mention that. *end of whisper*

I quite enjoyed this one.

Thoughts on Chapters 15 - End

Warning, Spoilers Ahead...

"Because stealing a body didn't raise suspicions at all." - This is exactly why I don't think Vardan is dead.

"A message to sit down, shut my mouth, and behave. Right. Because that always worked so well on me." - Only if by "so well" you mean never.

I can see Xandra's mother being the chief suspect. I don't think anyone hates Vardan more than her.

"You are the most vexing child."
"And you're a cantankerous old crone." - Victoria and Xandra continue to bond.

"And who the hell named that funeral home? It sounded like the title of a pop song." - It is the title of a pop song by the Bangles.

"It means that the poison that killed Vardan was also the same poison that killed my Albert." - Hmmm. The murderer been participating in dirty deeds since the Insurrection.

"Personally, I wasn't going to feel any better until I had his murderer's kidneys in a pie. I would like to then feed said pie to said murderer. That was possible, wasn't it?" - If you're determined and creative enough, it is.

Bertie and Juliet are bumping uglies. To be honest, I haven't trusted her since the first book. I have a bad feeling that Fee recognizes Bertie's voice from her time in the labs - is so that would be the ultimate betrayal by her mother.

Bertie set Juliet up? Bertie is looking like the murderer more and more.

Rye is a halfie that can fully shift too. I wonder if Rye was aware of that before Church kidnapped him?

The bad guys have created a strain of the plague from Xandra & company's blood. One that can transform humans into half-bloods. I wonder how that will affect human-aristo relations?

Will we ever learn about the previous goblin queen?

"Am I surrounded by children?" - Poor Vex - too often he's the only sane man in the room.

I love Vex's proposal! - "I'm marrying you, and if you say no, I'll tie you to this f***ing bed and you won't be going anywhere tomorrow night."

"Shifting is primarily a were trait. I don't care what our children are, but they'll be shifters." - Vex is very accepting but his children having the ability to shift would be important to him.

"Vex also sat up, blankets pooling around his waist. Fee didn't even look. Was she daft or respectful?" - I'd go with daft since she didn't even sneak a peek.

Lisarenee, you were spot on about the identity of the traitor - I agree, we won't mention the other possibility.

Loved the book. I'm sad that it wraps up the series though. I'm going to miss Xandra, Vex, and company.

Sara said, "Rye is a halfie that can fully shift too. I wonder if Rye was aware of that before Church kidnapped him?
Very good question.

I loved Vex's proposal as well. It made me smile.

What????? That's the last of the series? It seems unfinished. Why?

I heard it was the end of the series but I would be very happy to be wrong. I agree that it seems unfinished. I can think of many plotlines that still need to be explored.

I tweeted Kate:
@KlockeWork A friend told me that Long Live the Queen is the last book in the Immortal Empire series. Please tell me it ain't so.

Response:
@LisaRenee1234 @CupcakeLavon Sorry, but for now LLTQ is the last book, yeah. Working on a new series now.

*sniff* Well, the goblin queen didn't live that long did she? How sad.

Very! I'm really going to miss Xandra and Vex. Maybe the author will return to the series later on.

I wonder what her new series will be about?

I'm curious too. Kate Locke said on her website that she has written books under another name in a different genre - the Xandra books are her first paranormal books. I hope she continues in the paranormal genre - the Xandra books were very good.

Her picture is familiar. I just looked it up and now I know why she looks familiar. She's Kady Cross. Remember I mentioned The Girl in the Steel Corset? She's the author of that book/series as well. lol She's also Kathryn Smith, but I haven't read any of her books under that name.

I looked up Kathryn Smith and she wrote a romance series starring the MacLaughlins which made me giggle since that is Vex's last name.

lol We need to read at least one of those books. Wouldn't that be funny if he was a character from the series--a minor one? Butch from the J.R. Ward's BDB series was a character in one of her earlier contemporary romances. Well, at least his name was used and the location was right. I like it when authors do that.

That would be fun. I would be keeping an eye out for any mention of a Vex or a Duncan.