Everything has a spirit: the willow tree with leaves that kiss the pond, the stream that feeds the river, the wind that exhales fresh snow . . .
The spirits that inhabit the land of Renthia and bring it to life, are a danger to humans. Only one woman has the power to control the spirits and protect the land and its people; the chosen queen. However, the danger always looms. In order to ensure there is always a suitable candidate to take the position of queen should anything happen to the one that reigns, young women who choose to be candidates are trained to become heirs. Young Daleina, whose childhood brush with these malevolent spirits sets her on a path towards becoming heir, has the goal of doing right by the land and helping people. Along with Ven, a disgraced champion, she embarks on a quest to right the wrongs that have befallen Renthia and those she cares most about.
Don’t trust the fire, for it will burn you.
Don’t trust the ice, for it will freeze you.
Don’t trust the water, for it will drown you.
Don’t trust the air, for it will choke you.
Don’t trust the earth, for it will bury you.
Don’t trust the trees, for they will rip you,
rend you, tear you, kill you dead.
The premise intrigued me, the writing drew me in, the story captured my attention, and the characters made me care. The Queen of Blood is one of my favourite fantasy novels that I have read in quite some time. It works on so many different levels with charismatic, compelling characters, and a plot that kept me eagerly turning the pages. It strays away from the typical fantasy storyline which usually consist of one hero that is special in skill and talent, that rises above the rest to save/conquer. Instead, we have a protagonist that is a regular girl with a desire to help people, in a way she was unable to as a child when she experienced first-hand the power of the spirits. It’s about determination, strength, and wanting to do the right thing. A wonderfully written and captivating novel.
The Queen of Blood is the first in what is set to be a trilogy, with the second novel, The Reluctant Queen expected to be released in July of 2017. I very much look forward to this next instalment. 🙂
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