When it comes to anything fantasy, my ears immediately perk up. It will come as no surprise that I pounced on Sarah Beth Durst's The Queen of Blood as soon as the manuscript was available and subsequently tore through it over the course of one weekend. This first entry follows an idealistic young student and a banished warrior who become allies in a battle to save their realm from malevolent spirits. This will definitely be one of my new series to look out for, but I'm not the only one gushing about this adult debut. TWO starred reviews have already come in:
“…a stellar and imaginative tale…. Durst ably dispenses with tropes of the genre, zooming through the standard 'young magician at the academy' plot to focus on Daleina’s growth as both a person and a potential queen. In addition to a solid cast of characters and great political intrigue, Durst delivers some fascinating worldbuilding, and the spirits are malevolent, cunning, wild, and mysterious antagonists.” —Publishers Weekly *STARRED* review
"The captivating characters will draw readers into a world of magic and intrigue and keep them wanting more…. Durst, an award-winning YA author (Vessel) and three-time Andre Norton Award finalist, presents a thrilling beginning to a sweeping series about searching for sovereignty and truth in order to save one’s land." —Library Journal *STARRED* review
If you're looking for political intrigue, thrilling adventure, and high stakes in your next fantasy read, look no further. There's still time to download the egalley from Edelweiss, so dip in and let us know what you think!
-Amanda