Hmm, a lot of mixed feelings and thoughts about this entry in the series. Initially, I was going to blame my stilted progress and my new obsession Hades II for why this book felt off, but I think the book is truly at fault here. I was having a hard time trying to find words for why I felt this way, but reading others' reviews really helped me to hone in on a few reasons why.

I think with Queenslayer the biggest takeaway is it's not outright a bad book per say; However, it has to be the worst Spellslinger book in the series. Reading the acknowledgements, Castell says he had this story well before he wrote the first four Spellslinger books, and I think this really shows. To me, it feels like this initial story was edited to fit into the Spellslinger universe (and book #5 at that), but lacked the story progression the first four books brought and ultimately ended without any character progression being made. 

Kellen was the worst he's ever been in the series. He just felt so...off. Him even considering to kill the child queen in the beginning of the book felt wrong to who he was, even if he's become a more "rough around the edges" outlaw. Like other reviewers said, Kellen lost a lot of his cleverness and witty charm in this entry, and to me he was barely, if not at all an Argosi. It felt like Kellen used none of the cool Argosi abilities, coins or his new shadowblack ability in this book. This lack of Argosi-ness really disappointed me, as it's what I came to love about these books! Honestly, thank goodness Reichis was here, as strangely enough he became more a voice of reason than Kellen...Also, this book was incredibly dark (even more so than usual), just lots of killing and betrayal...poor Ginevra ☹

Also, there was a very specific event that happens later in the book (if you read the book you'll know what I mean) that was...awful. Should've been done differently. Bleh.

Despite most of the cons here, if you don't think of it as a Spellslinger book, it's a pretty good story with lots of twists and turns...but sadly it is. Here's to hoping Kellen bounces back in Crownbreaker and PLEASE bring Ferius back! Kellen was so lost here that he needs someone to knock some Argosi-sense into him.