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#Giveaway Review THE QUEEN OF BLOOD by Sarah Beth Durst @SarahBethDurst @TorTeen 7.17

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I received this book at no cost from the publisher

The Queen of Blood (The Queens of Renthia, #1) by Sarah Beth Durst
ISBN: 0062413368
Published by Harper Voyager on September 20th 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Legends, Myths, Fables, Suspense, Young Adult
Pages: 416
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
five-stars

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An idealistic young student and a banished warrior become allies in a battle to save their realm in this first book of a mesmerizing epic fantasy series, filled with political intrigue, violent magic, malevolent spirits, and thrilling adventure.

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 . . .

But the spirits that reside within this land want to rid it of all humans. One woman stands between these malevolent spirits and the end of humankind: the queen. She alone has the magical power to prevent the spirits from destroying every man, woman, and child. But queens are still just human, and no matter how strong or good, the threat of danger always looms.

With the position so precarious, young women are chosen to train as heirs. Daleina, a seemingly quiet Academy student, is under no illusions as to her claim to the throne, but simply wants to right the wrongs that have befallen the land. Ven, a disgraced champion, has spent his exile secretly fighting against the growing number of spirit attacks. Joining forces, these daring partners embark on a treacherous quest to find the source of the spirits’ restlessness—a journey that will test their courage and trust, and force them to stand against both enemies and friends to save their land . . . before it’s bathed in blood.

 

 Sarah Beth Durst is the award-winning author of fourteen fantasy books for adults, teens, and kids, including Drink, Slay, Love, the basis for the upcoming TV movie of the same name, airing on Lifetime in 2017. Her latest book for adults, The Reluctant Queen, came out in July 2017 from Harper Voyager; her latest book for kids, Journey Across the Hidden Islands came out in April 2017 from HMH/Clarion Books; and her first picture book, Roar and Sparkles Go to School, came out in June 2017 from Hachette/Running Press Kids. 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, writing about dragons, and wondering what the campus gargoyles would say if they could talk. Sarah lives in Stony Brook, New York, with her husband, her children, and her ill-mannered cat. For more information, visit her at www.sarahbethdurst.com
 Daleina is not a normal heir to the throne.  Her journey starts when her village is attacked by spirits that kill off everyone else but she manages to keep her home safe by her own willpower.  Now enrolled in school to become an heir to the throne or at least a guard, she keeps one thought in mind that she will succeed.  She struggles in school and has to put in extra hours to just maintain what comes easily to the other girls.  Her approach to spirits is unconventional and she finds that working with them rather than commanding is the key.
This story broke me out of a reading slump when nothing else could keep my interest.  It is full of wonderful world building that sucks you right in and keeps you.  Daleina is chosen by Ven, who is now in disgrace by the Queen.  The Queen is threatened by Daleina and her power over the spirits and tries to keep her out of running for the title of heir.  There are multiple layers to this story and the narration takes you inside the important character while not losing any continuity.
I really loved this one and any fan of fantasy will enjoy it.  Parents:  there is some kissing, some violence but nothing over a PG rating.

**Giveaway Ends 7.17.17 and is open to all who can legally enter.
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  1. No don’t have a dog. I use to when I lived at home. It was the only dog I have ever had.

  7. Yes, I have a dog. He’s a black lab mixed with maybe German Shepard. I can’t be sure because I adopted him from the pound.

You'd have to have, like, a lentil for a soul to hate wiener dogs. ~Zuzana from The Daughter of Smoke & Bones by Laini Taylor