Kindle Edition Amazon The Lizard Queen Category:  Fantasy Publisher: CreateSpace ISBN-10:  1511484004 Type: Fiction Pages: 298 Copyright: April 7, 2015 ISBN-13: 9781511484008 Price: $4.99 (eBook) Word has spread across all the nations that the prophesied Lacáruna has arrived to initiate the next expansion of this world. Although Amy Darlidale has passed tests of wits and endurance far beyond what she imagined possible, she struggles for insight into the role she is presumably intended to play in the fate of this world.  Word has spread across all the nations that the prophesied Lacáruna has arrived to initiate the next expansion of this world. Although Amy Darlidale has passed tests of wits and endurance far beyond what she imagined possible, she struggles for insight into the role she is presumably intended to play in the fate of this world.  It’s becoming increasingly clear that an all-out war is being waged by opposing factions—the Arañalianza, bent on making certain that the prophecy is never brought to pass, and the Trotéjo, sworn to make certain it does. A new Trotéjo comrade, isolated for too long to provide any meaningful direction but notably dedicated to the cause, pushes Amy and her band of protectors forward in the search for more clues.  As the range of the powers of Lacáruna continue to manifest, Amy is no longer the only one seeing visions. But nothing in her imagination can prepare her for coming face to face with the greatest nemesis of all.

by Trish (I read too much!)
Picks up in the real world, but doesn’t stay there too long.

A Spectacular Lie is all about Amy and her companions’ escape from the Centurions and their concurrent journey towards where they believe the next three Extiguos are held. As with the previous two, this one features quite a bit of time on the road, figuratively speaking.

What I liked most about it was that we finally get to learn more about La Reina, the mysterious Lizard Queen who expanded the world. Stuck aboard a ship that takes a detour to process fish, Amy has plenty of time to dig in and read the hard-won first three Extiguos. It’s a story within a story. I found the purposeful discrepancies between the translations mentioned by Amy’s companions, the scattered beliefs of the various countries and religious factions, and the version Amy reads fascinating. I’m impressed at how well each version is kept straight and consistent by the author.

I also like the intrigue that blooms aboard the ship when Amy and the others discover someone has likely learned who they are and what they have. Dack’s attempts to divert without consulting Jandro or Amy add a bit of tension.

It annoyed me a little how silly and careless Amy can be. She may be 40ish, but the teenager in her seems to peek out at the worst times. She knows she’s sought after, but when Dack tries to protect her, she gets obstinate. It seems the main way the story is shifted in preparation for the next book in the series, only the details are different.

Overall, I really liked the story. The intriguing backstory and solid, expansive world-building are what I enjoyed most. Folks who like quests and mysteries in a fantasy setting will likely enjoy this story.