In The Queen of Blood, Daleina used her strength and skill to survive the malevolent nature spirits of Renthia and claim the crown. Since then, she 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 once again run wild, destroying her cities and slaughtering her people.
Naelin has the raw power necessary to become an heir, but 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. But when Ven, the Queen's Champion, passes through her village, Naelin's ambitious husband proudly tells him of his wife's ability to control spirits–magic that Naelin fervently denies. She knows embracing her power will bring only separation from those she loves and even death.
But Ven has a single task: to find the best possible candidate to protect the people of Aratay. And as the queen's power begins to wane and the spirits become emboldened – even as ominous rumors trickle down from the north – Naelin realizes that the only 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.
About the Author
Sarah Beth Durst is the author of ten fantasy novels for adults, teens, and children, including The Lost, Vessel, and The Girl Who Could Not Dream. She was awarded the 2013 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 and children.
Industry Reviews
"Durst is a very gifted storyteller with a knack for comforting prose, both qualities which make The Reluctant Queen an extremely engaging novel and one that is difficult to put down." -- SFFWorld
"It is a pleasure to visit Renthia again. Durst paints a gorgeous, leaf-strewn horror house setting that makes it easy to immerse yourself in her world, and stay there." -- B&N Sci-fi & Fantasy Blog
"Durst's excellent second Queens of Renthia fantasy." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"The Reluctant Queen was a fantastic next installment for this trilogy." -- Girls in Capes
"The Reluctant Queen makes for a worthy follow-up to The Queen of Blood." -- Culturess
"Ms. Durst has penned a series that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. The characters are diverse, both in age and life experience, making this a perfect pick for pretty much anyone who enjoys a well-crafted fantasy with strong heroines and a very unique world." -- All About Romance
"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....The Queens of Renthia is shaping up to be an excellent series." -- Bibliosanctum
"A thrilling beginning to a sweeping series about searching for sovereignty and truth in order to save one's land." -- Library Journal (starred review)
"The Queen of Blood is full of rich tension from the opening scene to the nail-biting finale." -- Jeff Wheeler, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Kingfountain and Muirwood series
Praise for The Queen of Blood: "Mythopoeic Award-winner Durst launches her Queens of Renthia series with a stellar and imaginative tale." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Thrilling--heartrending--enchanting--absolutely un-put-down-able!" -- Tamora Pierce, New York Times bestselling author
"What a great story! A truly wonderful fantasy novel which doubles as an allegory for our own earthly struggle between Man and Nature. Filled with fresh ideas and excitement, told with verve and heart. This book deserves a wide readership, and I think it will find one." -- Terry Brooks, New York Times bestselling author of the Shannara series
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