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The Reluctant Queen (The Queens of Renthia #2)

Sarah Beth Durst (Goodreads Author)

4.04 · Rating details · 1,785 Ratings · 308 Reviews

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 . . .
And those spirits want to kill you.
It’s the first lesson that every Renthian learns.

Not long ago, Daleina used her strength and skill to survive those spirits and assume the royal throne. Since then, the new queen has kept the p 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 . . .
And those spirits want to kill you.
It’s the first lesson that every Renthian learns.

Not long ago, Daleina used her strength and skill to survive those spirits and assume the royal throne. Since then, the new queen has kept the peace and protected the humans of her land. But now for all her power, she is hiding a terrible secret: she is dying. And if she leaves the world before a new heir is ready, the spirits that inhabit her beloved realm will run wild, destroying her cities and slaughtering her people.

Naelin is one such person, and she couldn’t be further removed from the Queen—and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Her world is her two children, her husband, and the remote village tucked deep in the forest that is her home, and that’s all she needs. But when Ven, the Queens champion, passes through the village, Naelin’s ambitious husband proudly tells him of his wife’s ability to control spirits—magic that Naelin fervently denies. She knows that if the truth of her abilities is known, it will bring only death and separation from those she loves.

But Ven has a single task: to find the best possible candidate to protect the people of Aratay. He did it once when he discovered Daleina, and he’s certain he’s done it again. Yet for all his appeals to duty, Naelin is a mother, and she knows her duty is to her children first and foremost. Only as the Queen’s power begins to wane and the spirits become emboldened—even as ominous rumors trickle down from the north—does she realize that the best way to keep her son and daughter safe is to risk everything.

Sarah Beth Durst established a place of dark wonder in The Queen of Blood, and now the stakes are even higher as the threat to the Queen and her people grows both from within and beyond the borders of Aratay in this riveting second novel of the Queens of Renthia series. ...more

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Kindle Edition, 368 pages

Published July 4th 2017 by Harper Voyager

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Sep 05, 2016 Emily May rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, arc, 2017

I'm just going to say it: I think this series is REALLY good and should be read by more people.

There's so much bad in YA fantasy. So much recycled I-pretend-the-world-is-in-danger-but-really-I-just-need-to-choose-between-two-hot-boys nonsense. I personally really feel this series is a hidden gem in a huge pile of the same. It sounds familiar, with the usual titles like "The Queen of ___" and "The ___ Queen", but, for me at least, the story is something different.

Maybe it's just that so much time I'm just going to say it: I think this series is REALLY good and should be read by more people.

There's so much bad in YA fantasy. So much recycled I-pretend-the-world-is-in-danger-but-really-I-just-need-to-choose-between-two-hot-boys nonsense. I personally really feel this series is a hidden gem in a huge pile of the same. It sounds familiar, with the usual titles like "The Queen of ___" and "The ___ Queen", but, for me at least, the story is something different.

Maybe it's just that so much time has passed, but I feel like I liked this sequel even more than the first book. Daleina is now queen, struggling to control the spirits, but she soon finds out a terrible truth: she is dying. If she dies without an heir, Aratay will be overrun by spirits and fall into chaos. Two races are on in this book - Hamon's race to find a cure for Daleina's incurable illness, and the champions' race to produce a worthy queen before it is too late.

As if this wasn't all dramatic enough, the queen of Semo (and Daleina's old friend) appears to be moving her soldiers into Aratay. It's all very exciting. AND then it turns out that something else may not be as it first appeared, which leads us toward a very compelling mystery and, I thought, a surprising resolution.

I think this book has a lot of crossover appeal and could easily be sold as adult fantasy. The characters are all adults and, though PG-13, the book carries a maturity with it. Daleina never becomes distracted by some hot dude and always remembers what is really important - protecting the throne and, through it, the people of Aratay.

In The Reluctant Queen, we meet some fabulous new characters. Naelin is a woodswoman who has spent her whole life hiding her power away so she can have a normal life with her children and husband. When the safety of her children is threatened, she emerges into the spotlight. I also thought the manipulative and evil Garnah was a fantastic character. She was a great villain because, for some reason, she wasn't entirely unlikeable. Maybe because she was so smart and cunning that it was hard to not have a certain admiration for her.

This is just entertaining, fast-paced fantasy exactly the way I like it. Mysteries, murder, royal politics and betrayals, and just the tiniest bit of romance.

Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube ...more

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Feb 24, 2017 Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, fantasy

$2.99 Kindle sale, March 16, 2018, for this second book in a very good fantasy series. The third (and final, I believe) book in this series will be published in May 2018. Final review, first posted on Fantasy Literature. Some spoilers for the first book in this series here:

Sarah Beth Durst continues the saga of the QUEENS OF RENTHIA in The Reluctant Queen, the second book in this series (definitely read the first book, The Queen of Blood, before this one). Renthia is in a world where everything ...more

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Aug 04, 2017 Mogsy (MMOGC) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: review-copy, fantasy

4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2017/08/15/...

The opening volume of the Queens of Renthia series, The Queen of Blood, was one of my most surprising reads of last year, both in how the story turned out as well as how much I enjoyed it. As a book that contained many elements of your average Young Adult fantasy, I confess I hadn’t really expected much from it at all, though ultimately I came out of it very satisfied and impressed. Needless to say, I’m glad I picked up Th 4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2017/08/15/...

The opening volume of the Queens of Renthia series, The Queen of Blood, was one of my most surprising reads of last year, both in how the story turned out as well as how much I enjoyed it. As a book that contained many elements of your average Young Adult fantasy, I confess I hadn’t really expected much from it at all, though ultimately I came out of it very satisfied and impressed. Needless to say, I’m glad I picked up The Reluctant Queen because, like its predecessor, this sequel was a breath of fresh air, surpassing my expectations once again.

Following the shocking events of the previous novel, Daleina has become queen, though in her eyes, the price of her taking the throne was much too high. Still, despite her devastation at all that had happened, the citizens of Aratay are depending on her to keep the volatile spirits of the natural world in line, and Daleina is determined to do all she can to keep her people safe.

But now, the future of her realm is in jeopardy, for Daleina has just received some terrible news: it turns out that the ill effects she has been experiencing lately are the symptoms of a fatal inherited disease, and she may not have long to live. Worse, if she dies without someone to take her place, the land will be left without a protector to control the spirits, leaving them to run wild over the settlements, destroying and killing everything they touch.

And so, in her desperation to find an heir, Daleina sends her champions out into the world to track down the most promising and talented candidates to bring them back for training—even if they have no aspirations to become queen, for not all girls with the affinity to manipulate spirits wind up at the academies to learn how to use their powers. Some manage to stay under the radar, especially if they simply want to live a humble, quiet existence. Naelin is one such person, who has kept her powerful abilities a secret ever since she was a little girl. She’s content with her life in her remote village in the forest, married to a woodsman and raising their son and daughter. However, when Daleina’s champion comes calling, Naelin’s days of hiding may be over. Now that the truth has been revealed, the spirits have marked her as a threat, and despite her strong reluctance to leave her old familiar life behind, becoming the queen’s heir may be the only way she can protect her children.

I love it when a series evolves, and there’s no question about it—this one is maturing in more ways than one. First of all, the story has grown richer with the addition of a new POV character, and I have to say Naelin is one of the best characters I’ve had the pleasure of meeting in a book. Much like how Daleina was in the previous novel, Naelin is not your typical “Chosen One”; she’s a middle-aged woman and a mother, whose only desire to provide a safe, stable home for her children. She loves the simple yet rewarding life she has built, and is content with the way things are. Furthermore, unlike The Queen of Blood which at times had the feel of a young adult novel because of the age of its protagonist as well as some of its adolescent “magic school” themes, The Reluctant Queen shines the light on topics which are more geared towards adulthood (such as parenting and marital issues), imbuing this series with a certain weightiness that certainly wasn’t there before.

This also makes the novel’s conflicts seem more significant somehow, because Naelin has so much more to lose. Her charming, adorable children are her entire world, and Sarah Beth Durst should be applauded for doing such an excellent job getting readers to engage and sympathize with this little family. They wanted nothing more than to live their lives in obscurity and peace, but instead they are thrust into the limelight, and Naelin is given the most difficult choice of all, which really made me appreciate the author’s exploration into the many different roles of women by featuring a predominantly female cast. On the surface, we have Daleina, whose duty is to provide safety to her people, as well as Naelin, who is a mother fully devoted to her children, but nothing is ever so clear cut or simple. Whether it’s queen, protector, wife, mother, daughter, sister—some characters must bear the burden of a great number of responsibilities and take on multiple roles. The timeless themes of family and sacrifice woven through this story are very powerful and touching, and frankly I wish there were more books like these out there.

Last year, The Queen of Blood made it onto my list of books that I felt were deserving of more attention, and I maintain that more than ever, especially with how good The Reluctant Queen turned out. I really can’t wait to see what happens next. The Queens of Renthia is shaping up to be an excellent series, and I definitely won’t make the mistake of underestimating it again. ...more

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Jul 07, 2017 Jessica rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: own, firstreads, fantasy

As a mom who is just starting to get some gray hairs, it is very, very pleasing to read a fantasy book starring a mom who is starting to get gray hairs. It is very, very pleasing to read about a "Chosen One" who is like, "No. I didn't want this. I don't want fame or glory. I don't even care about saving the world. I only care about my family, MY life."

I was like, YEAH. You go, girl!

Too often moms in books are relegated to being the kindly farm lady who raised the Chosen One, taught them manners ...more

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Feb 04, 2017 Justine rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: to-read-06-june, 2018-read

An excellent sequel, this book was very different from The Queen of Blood. We get a good follow up on established characters, plus introduction to some interesting new ones.

I loved the new central character introduced in this book, Naelin. We don't often get older women, particularly mothers, taking a such a central and positive role in YA fantasy - and here we even get a little bit of romantic tension! Honestly, she really made the book for me.

Durst is doing something different here, and as a ...more

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Dec 31, 2016 Taylor rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, 2017-books, favorites

"What did you want?" Still cradling her children, Naelin watched the guardswoman clean her blade and then splash water on her face and neck. Patches of dirt turned into mud that dripped over her shoulders.

She shrugged. "Not that life. Far too boring."

"Peaceful isn't boring."

"I wanted to matter. For my life to matter. So many people die and no one knows they ever existed. They're ripples in a stream, disappearing when the wind blows."

...

The Reluctant Queen by Sarah Beth Durst is the second book i ...more

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Apr 24, 2018 Hollis rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018-reads, fantasy, finished-in-april-2018, heroes-to-root-for, library-read, men-in-uniform, not-all-the-feels-but-some, not-a-bunch-of-twenty-somethings, romance, seriously-kick-ass-lady-protag

I'm fluctuating a bit on this one. THE RELUCTANT QUEEN had a slow start that nonetheless completely enthralled me by the end. We shift gears quite a bit coming out of book one and into this middle installment of the Queens of Renthia series and I was hesitant about that shift after everything that had been earned in THE QUEEN OF BLOOD. But I like where this is going -- or at least where I think this is going. And again, that ending/build to the big climax was fantastic.

"They're no longer callin ...more

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Oct 18, 2016 Idil marked it as to-read · review of another edition

As long as Merecot is in this one, I'm happy.

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May 01, 2018 Bob Milne rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-epic

The Queens of Renthia is very much a traditional fantasy, full of elemental spirits, forest settings, and a legitimate sense of wonder. It is also surprisingly violent, with the dark, bloody, treacherous climax of The Queen of Blood genuinely impressing me.

While I felt the first half of The Reluctant Queen was too much a repeat of the first book, with yet another heir being trained to take the throne, there were enough differences to keep me intrigued, giving Sarah Beth Durst time to orchestrate The Queens of Renthia is very much a traditional fantasy, full of elemental spirits, forest settings, and a legitimate sense of wonder. It is also surprisingly violent, with the dark, bloody, treacherous climax of The Queen of Blood genuinely impressing me.

While I felt the first half of The Reluctant Queen was too much a repeat of the first book, with yet another heir being trained to take the throne, there were enough differences to keep me intrigued, giving Sarah Beth Durst time to orchestrate a few big reveals that drive the second half toward a much bigger conflict. Had I read it first (as she apparently wrote it), I suspect this second volume would have been my favorite, but that familiarity holds it back, placing it in "just as good" territory, rather than "better than the first."

Let me start by talking about those differences, which are significant. With Daleina as the protagonist, the first book was very much a young heroine's coming of age tale, complete with training montages, innocent adoration, and first-love romance. The sequel takes a much more mature approach, selecting Naelin - a wife and a mother - as the new protagonist. That choice shifts the focus significantly, adopting a reluctant heroine and getting deeper into themes of family, responsibility, and accountability.

As for the second half of the novel, it echoes the betrayals of the first, but this time the conflict comes from without, which further teases the wider word-building of the first book. Similarly, the story once again forces us to ask if the ends ever justify the means, but this time on a smaller scale, with the introduction of Hamon's mother, an amusing, if entirely amoral, sociopath. It's just as uncomfortable a story as the first, and perhaps even more so for the human motives involved, with a betrayal that carries a far heavier emotional burden, even if it too is on a smaller scale. The conflict behind the second half is interesting, especially knowing now that it will drive the final volume, and while the climax may not be as shocking, it's still entirely satisfying.

Bring on The Queen of Sorrow, and the tragedies that await.

https://beauty-in-ruins.blogspot.ca/2... ...more

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Jun 16, 2017 Karissa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

This is the second book in the Queens of Renthia series. I absolutely loved this book and have loved all the books in this series so far. This is a fantasy series; while it is appropriate for YA it features a lot of adult characters.

I love the world and the characters in here. The writing is easy to read and flows well. I have a really hard time putting this book down and ended up reading it very quickly.

I enjoyed seeing Daleina on the throne and struggling through her reign. However, even bett ...more

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Dec 27, 2017 Lindsay rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A return to Renthia with a new heir being needed almost immediately after the last Queen was crowned.

Naelin has power over spirits that she has denied all her life, but she'll do anything to protect her two children, even reveal that power to Champion Ven when he seeks her out. Meanwhile Daleina is sick with a horrific disease that leaves her unable to control spirits for short periods: catastrophic when the whole country relies on her control.

Naelin is a great character; "mother bear" as Ven ca ...more

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Jan 09, 2018 Rissa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, 2018-favorites

More action, more drama, more death and uncontrollable spirits.

It was absolutely wonderful andni cant wait for the next book!

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Jul 14, 2017 Colleen Houck added it · review of another edition

Shelves: animals, another-world, chbc-author, colleen-houck-book-club-pick, cover-love, death, fantasy, forest, magic, outdoors-camping

Liked this one just as much as the first. The world building in this series is incredible! If you love fantasy, you'll really enjoy this one. I really related to the reluctant heroine and I liked her a lot. Great characters!

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Aug 23, 2017 Acqua rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, aphobia, boring, boring-li, princesses, no-chemistry

This may be the most boring fantasy book I've ever read, and it wasn't even that long. Nothing happened for the first 100 pages, and after that I started skimming.
And I liked the first book! I still like this world, but I'm definitely not continuing the series. This was just terrible.

I didn't hate the protagonist—I liked the idea of her. However, she wasn't that developed, and it took her 100 pages only to decide to start training. At that point, I had already lost interest in her.
The romance be ...more

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Apr 19, 2018 Ari rated it really liked it · review of another edition

You know, what I realised is that even though I am fond of the general themes (and the genre in itself), I could slowly move on from YA, not because I didn't like this book, but because I liked it MORE.

And that's in part because the characters were older - while some people might have struggled with Naelin, I just loved her for her deep stubbornness. I have a child, he is the world to me, I would do anything for him and if faced with her choices I would be just as reluctant.

Like with Hunger Ga ...more

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Feb 06, 2018 Claudia ✨ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: year-2018, four-stars

My rating: 4.5 stars

After reading this stunning sequel to one of my favorite fantasy books ever, The Queen of Blood, I am now even more baffled by the fact that this series isn't more talked about.

In this book, the stakes are even higher than in its predecessor. Daleina is now the queen of Aratay, and all should be good - except that she finds herself terminally sick. And if she dies without an heir, all of Aratay will fall to the bloodthirsty spirits. It's up to Champion Ven to try to find an My rating: 4.5 stars

After reading this stunning sequel to one of my favorite fantasy books ever, The Queen of Blood, I am now even more baffled by the fact that this series isn't more talked about.

In this book, the stakes are even higher than in its predecessor. Daleina is now the queen of Aratay, and all should be good - except that she finds herself terminally sick. And if she dies without an heir, all of Aratay will fall to the bloodthirsty spirits. It's up to Champion Ven to try to find an heir that has the abilities to take over Daleina's crown, but when he meets the powerful and loving mother Naelin, he realises that he not only needs to find an heir that is strong, but also actually willing.

Aaaahhhhh. Guys, this was absolutely amazing. It started off with a bang, an absolutely awful bang that set all the wheels of this powerful and nervewracking story in motion. The writing is also once again beautiful, and the magic that Durst weaves with Aratay is incredibly impressive - she almost transported me to the green anicent forests of Daleina's home. It almost felt sentient at times.

We also had a nice blend of both new and old characters - I have to admit that I had a lot of troubles with the new main character Naelin though. She was as fleshed out and complex as the rest of the cast, but she just annoyed me. I have no problem with "bad" characters - I liked the sneaky Garnah for an example - but Naelin was just narrowminded and selfish and a bore, especially at first, and she might actually be what didn't make this book exactly as good as the first for me. I do have to say that she improved and got her head out of her ass as the book progressed though, but Daleina is still, without a question, my queen. I love her.

I would also like to add that I really feel like this book should be categorised as Adult or High Fantasy. It's not just that basically all the characters are adults, but the feel of this isn't that of a YA any longer, even though it still has that gripping pace and flow. It's simply more mature.

The plot will fit people of all ages - it's captivating, with all its twists and turns and unravelings, and I found that it just got better and better. That ending had me shooketh. I literally couldn't let the book go at all those last hundred pages and now have too many questions jumbling around in my head that I need answered now.

I can't fucking wait for The Queen of Sorrow, y'all. It's bittersweet how that one will be the last in this fantastic series, but I have absolutely no doubt that Durst will give us an amazing finale to remember. ...more

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Nov 28, 2017 Beth Cato rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2017, fantasy

This second book in the Queens of Renthia series can stand well on its own, but also works as a strong sequel to The Queen of Blood. At the end of the first book, Daleina has survived a bloody massacre of warring nature spirits and become queen of Renthia. However, it soon becomes clear that she is deathly ill. As the nature spirits rally against her and political woes increase, Daleina must accept that she may be dead within months--and Renthia needs a new candidate for queen. A major problem, ...more

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Aug 20, 2017 Cindy ✩☽ Savage Queen ♔ marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Me when I realize (after just finishing The Queen of Blood) that the second book is not about Daleina...

Like how dare you!? You made me fall in love with the characters from Book 1 and now you're taking them away from me! Ugh....

Sidenote: If the main character is a mother with graying hair and we obviously know Valek is probably an old man by now, shouldn't this book be considered Adult based on the characters? Or is that not how this works anymore? In the first book, Daleina and all her fello ...more

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Jul 05, 2017 Books, Vertigo and Tea (Danielle) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, ya

*As always this is a review for a sequel. I will try to omit potential spoilers, but recommend visiting at a later time if you have yet to read the first in the series and plan to do so. You can find my review for the first book The Queen of Blood here.

I only recently read and reviewed the The Queen of Blood (The Queens of Renthia #1) in eager anticipation of exploring a new series. I had this lovely arc in my hands and simply knew it was going to be worth my time. While appropriate for the YA *As always this is a review for a sequel. I will try to omit potential spoilers, but recommend visiting at a later time if you have yet to read the first in the series and plan to do so. You can find my review for the first book The Queen of Blood here.

I only recently read and reviewed the The Queen of Blood (The Queens of Renthia #1) in eager anticipation of exploring a new series. I had this lovely arc in my hands and simply knew it was going to be worth my time. While appropriate for the YA audience, an ensemble of well developed characters, plot and world building continues to provide an experience that I feel can be adequately appreciated by all.

Now the Queen of Aratay, Daleina discovers that she has the False Death. Now she struggles to conceal a secret that is killing her and threatening her country. She must find a successor to the throne immediately. But what happens when the only person who can possibly help refuses to do so? Naelin has hidden her powers in fear of losing her quiet, content life with her children. But now she may have to give up everything she has fought for to protect that very life. With an impending invasion, time if of the essence.

The Reluctant Queen is a rare case of a sequel surpassing its predecessor. Packed with a sense of urgency and delivered with a few remarkable new characters, it expands on an intricate story of magic and survival in the best of ways. The plot is familiar but more evolved. We still have a queen who is responsible for maintaining the balance of life and spirits. Now that element has been beautifully heightened by Daleina’s failing health and the dire need for an heir.

Nailen is absolutely stellar in terms of female protagonist. She offers a unique facet with her older age and two children that I found slightly relatable and at times highly admirable. Her motherly instincts drive her and ultimately prove to be her true strength. Forthright in her feelings against training to be an heir, she is humble and supplies a refreshing perspective on life in Aratay. Familiar characters also make a welcomed return as Ven is tasked with finding a new candidate and the very queen he trained is facing uncertainty.

The world building progresses as we are given a glimpse into the castle and throne room. This provides further exploration into how reliant life on Renthia is to having a queen. The magic in The Reluctant Queen continues to prove its worth with a direct yet imaginative system that focuses on nature and its manipulation. I hold a fondness for the emphasis of female power in this book. I love that the magic is gender exclusive. While I am aware that aspect might not fall on the favor of all, I felt it enhanced the female leads and provided an extra dose of originality.

The writing is all that I have come to expect from my time with The Queen of Blood. A fluid yet light prose creates a fast paced read that never feels too dense or complex yet manages to convey a story full of depth. Again, I am recommending this series to all fans of fantasy and magic. My anticipation to continue exploring this series easily rivals that of any past encounters during the last year or two!

*I would like to thank the publisher for this copy. This review is my own, unbiased opinion.

You can also find this review on Books, Vertigo and Tea. ...more

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Aug 02, 2017 Suz rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, fantasy

3.75 stars

This one definitely got better as it got farther along. The mystery was engaging, the new female lead is mature and likeable if a bit frustrating in place. This addition to the series had a bit more romance than the first book.

I like the novel resolution to one of the biggest problems facing the MCs.

I had some frustration with some tropes early on, in the last book it was the lack of communication as plot pacing trope that was most vexing. This entry in the series could, in places, ri ...more

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Mar 02, 2017 Lexie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: autographed, books-owned-read

We got a bit til this comes out so I'll just say these things:
- what's more important, protecting your family with your power or protecting the world so they are safe?
- what price do family ties take?
- Is there a moral right when both sides are struggling equally?
- there is always a third option. the world is not black and white, the world is not made of such simplistic categories. Always find the third option that works best for you.

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Jul 03, 2017 celeste rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: aty-in-52-books

*I received an ARC of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
3.75 stars

Okay, the ending redeemed a lot of the problems that I originally had with this book. To be honest, I would only want to read the third book of this trilogy for Bayn the wolf. Please, PROTECT THE WOLF AT ALL COSTS.

This was significantly better than the first novel in this series. A lot of things that were only hinted at in The Queen of Blood were given detailed explanations here; the world-building was furt *I received an ARC of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
3.75 stars

Okay, the ending redeemed a lot of the problems that I originally had with this book. To be honest, I would only want to read the third book of this trilogy for Bayn the wolf. Please, PROTECT THE WOLF AT ALL COSTS.

This was significantly better than the first novel in this series. A lot of things that were only hinted at in The Queen of Blood were given detailed explanations here; the world-building was further explained, the characters felt more developed and not two-dimensional -even if I still think we could have been done away with one particular romantic relationship. And even though no one knows how women are the only ones who can have an affinity towards spirits and have the power to control them, the magic of how that control is enforced was a little bit more developed, since this was mainly the focus of the book's plotline.

We are also introduced to new characters, some of which I really enjoyed reading about. Naelin gets to share the MC status just as Daleina does, and even though her whining about not wanting power annoyed me at the beginning, it is understandable taking into account she is a mother of two kids and she only ever wanted to be left alone. In the end, I think she came around and understood that it was selfish of her to think that way when the people of Aratay needed the protection that she could offer.

Now onto the problems I had while reading this. The romantic relationship that came out of nowhere in the first book and had no foundation or development whatsoever. It's hard to believe the love Daleina and Hamon claim to have for each other, when we haven't been given any kind of reason for us to believe in it. The only reason I could see for this to still be a thing in the second book was because they needed the help from Hamon's mother. That was it.

Another thing I think was completely ridiculous was how Daleina's sister became a master at preparing and identifying poisons overnight. Even if she had the best poisoner teacher in the whole fucking world, there is no way you can make me believe that a teenager of 14 years old is going to master the arts of poisoning in just a matter of three days. Like, no. It's not gonna happen. Try again.

And the most important of them all, the poisoner's reveal that wasn't much of a reveal. Seriously? The author was basically pointing with a finger at the person who ended up being the poisoner with the hints she was giving all throughout the book. It was way too obvious. And the worst thing was that she started doing that since the middle of the book!! I had to sit there and stare like-I-was-in-the-office style every time the poisoner tried to hide the OBVIOUS signs of guilt on it's face. It took everything away from what could have been an extraordinary climax when the reveal was done. But no, you could see who it was from a mile away.

Like I've said, this was still much better than the first book, especially because a lot of questions I had were explained here, and the characters felt more well-rounded as well. I still had a lot of issues with it that go beyond whether or not I like how original this YA fantasy story is. ...more

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Feb 05, 2018 Shannon rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I'm actually really enjoying this series. There's something so compelling about it. I love the characters and in this one we have a new batch of characters added to the mix. Loved them all. I will say Durst is just terrible at writing romance. I don't understand why she's so bad at it when she's great at plot and characters and setting... Her romances fall flat. It's not enough for 2 people to be in the same place and since there are no other options, just end up kissing. This one was slightly b ...more

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Dec 20, 2017 Danii rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS SERIES!!!
It was really awesome to see a different side of Deleina, while shes losing hope and trying her best to be queen when she thinks/knows she doesn't deserve it. She deals with a lot of the trauma of the choosing ceremony and everything that happened during it, and it just shows how much of a person she is. All the while, something bad has happened to her, and she has no hope that things will go right.
I thought it was really cool to see another character being trained ...more

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Jan 15, 2018 Tracy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I liked this book even better than the first one. I really like Naelin as a character. She's a fierce mother, and that added a lot to the story.

Sometimes the dialogue is cheesy, and sometimes the characters repeat themselves too much. But overall, I liked it. The magic is really different and interesting.

I look forward to the next book!

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Jun 27, 2017 Fallon rated it really liked it · review of another edition

more like 4.5. I am so excited for book 3. This really set up for what I think will be an excellent finale. There were so many twists. The pacing was better in this one and I loved Ven and Naelin. also the wolf. I need to know more

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Jun 03, 2018 Kendra rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: z-added-in-dec-2017, sci-fi-fantasy, read-in-june-2018

Picks up shortly after the ending of the first book, and another enjoyable read. Really enjoyed the twists and turns, and was impressed with what the author did.

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Jun 27, 2018 Monica Hay rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is quickly becoming a favorite series

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Apr 29, 2018 Jessica (HighFantasyFanatic) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: owned, 2018

Such a unique and underrated series.
This book expands and grows with the characters to make an even more compelling sequel!

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May 23, 2018 Stephanie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-tasha-wants-me-to-read

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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About Sarah Beth Durst

Sarah Beth Durst

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Sarah Beth Durst is the award-winning author of sixteen fantasy books for adults, teens, and kids, including The Queens of Renthia series, Drink Slay Love, and The Stone Girl's Story. She won an ALA Alex Award and a Mythopoeic Fantasy Award, and has been a finalist for SFWA's Andre Norton Award three times. She is a graduate of Princeton University, where she spent four years studying English, wri ...more

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