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The Queens of Renthia #2
The Reluctant Queen
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.
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.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 4, 2017
373 people are currently reading
7550 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Beth Durst
42 books6,989 followersSarah Beth Durst is the New York Times bestselling author of over twenty-five books for adults, teens, and kids, including cozy fantasy The Spellshop. She's been awarded an American Library Association Alex Award, as well as a Mythopoeic Fantasy Award. Several of her books have been optioned for film/television, including Drink Slay Love, which was made into a TV movie and was a question on Jeopardy! She lives in Stony Brook, New York, with her husband, her children, and her ill-mannered cat. Visit her at sarahbethdurst.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 799 reviews
June 24, 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 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.
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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.
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March 16, 2018
$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 in nature ― air, trees, water, earth, fire and more ― has a spirit that lives, moves … and maliciously attacks humans, unprovoked. These wild, chaotic spirits can be killed, but then their corresponding bit of nature (a tree, a field, etc.) dies and becomes barren as well. So generally people try not to kill the spirits, and the magically gifted women of Renthia, particularly the queen, are charged with keeping the spirits under control with their powers.
Daleina, who was crowned queen of Aratay, one of the countries of Renthia, at the end of The Queen of Blood, is still in the process of adjusting to being the queen when she topples over in a dead faint, briefly loosing the spirits around her to kill several people. Daleina is diagnosed with a fatal illness called the False Death, which causes periodic blackouts (especially when she is exercising her magical power) that will worsen and kill her within a few short months. And every time she blacks out, she’s so close to death that the spirits, no longer controlled by her magic, go wild, killing people and trashing the area. It’s a dangerous and insupportable situation! To make matters worse, Queen Merecot of the neighboring country Semo is gathering troops on the border, which Daleina’s counselors fear is a sign of a pending invasion, despite Merecot’s reassuring messages to Daleina.
So Daleina calls all of the country’s Champions, including her former champion and mentor Ven, to quickly find a new magically gifted girl who can take over as queen within the three months Daleina expects to have before she dies. The task is almost impossible, particularly since there are no more older trained, magically gifted girls. Ven, accompanied by Daleina’s personal guard and friend Alet, embarks on his search. He quickly discards the idea of choosing a trainee from the magic academies as too young and untrained, and heads off into the forests of Aratay to scour the towns and villages, hoping to find an older woman with strong magic who was somehow overlooked in earlier searches.
Ven and Alet soon find Naelin, a responsible married woman with an irresponsible husband and two young children, and extremely powerful magic that she has tried to deny and hide, afraid of the consequences of attracting the spirits’ attention to herself and her family by use of her magic. So Naelin has absolutely no desire to develop control of her magic, leave her village, become an heir to the queen, or ANYTHING else that Ven wants and needs her to do. “I don’t want to be a candidate for queen!” (and its corollaries, “I don’t want my power” and “I just want a quiet life”) is her constant refrain. It gets rather tiresome, though it’s a necessary component of the plot.
Meanwhile, Queen Daleina’s former lover Hamon, a healer, is madly trying to find a cure for the False Death. He’s so desperate that he even calls in his amoral mother Garnah, a brilliant and immensely gifted healer, to help.
Naelin and Garnah, the two primary new characters introduced in The Reluctant Queen, are a welcome addition to the series. While both are intriguing and well-rounded characters, they vividly contrast with each other in their outlooks on life and treatment of others. Naelin has a deep concern for others and a protective instinct, while Garnah uses others cold-bloodedly to advance her own purposes. I expected to detest Garnah thoroughly, but she surprised me by being a more intelligent and enjoyable character than I had expected. She ended up being one of my favorite characters in the book … though I’d hate to have to deal with her in real life, especially if I were standing in the way of her goals! Daleina remains a presence in The Reluctant Queen, visibly matured from the untried girl she was in The Queen of Blood. Merecot, a memorably gifted and ruthlessly ambitious young woman from Daleina’s days at the academy, also makes a welcome reappearance.
Naelin is a rarity for a main character in fantasy literature, a mature woman with children. It was fascinating to see her point of view as an older person with more life experience. Naelin has a strong mama bear streak, and gets understandably impatient when Ven tries to forcibly push her through training without explaining things to her or taking her opinion into account:
I received a free copy of this book from the author for review. Thank you!
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 in nature ― air, trees, water, earth, fire and more ― has a spirit that lives, moves … and maliciously attacks humans, unprovoked. These wild, chaotic spirits can be killed, but then their corresponding bit of nature (a tree, a field, etc.) dies and becomes barren as well. So generally people try not to kill the spirits, and the magically gifted women of Renthia, particularly the queen, are charged with keeping the spirits under control with their powers.
Daleina, who was crowned queen of Aratay, one of the countries of Renthia, at the end of The Queen of Blood, is still in the process of adjusting to being the queen when she topples over in a dead faint, briefly loosing the spirits around her to kill several people. Daleina is diagnosed with a fatal illness called the False Death, which causes periodic blackouts (especially when she is exercising her magical power) that will worsen and kill her within a few short months. And every time she blacks out, she’s so close to death that the spirits, no longer controlled by her magic, go wild, killing people and trashing the area. It’s a dangerous and insupportable situation! To make matters worse, Queen Merecot of the neighboring country Semo is gathering troops on the border, which Daleina’s counselors fear is a sign of a pending invasion, despite Merecot’s reassuring messages to Daleina.
So Daleina calls all of the country’s Champions, including her former champion and mentor Ven, to quickly find a new magically gifted girl who can take over as queen within the three months Daleina expects to have before she dies. The task is almost impossible, particularly since there are no more older trained, magically gifted girls. Ven, accompanied by Daleina’s personal guard and friend Alet, embarks on his search. He quickly discards the idea of choosing a trainee from the magic academies as too young and untrained, and heads off into the forests of Aratay to scour the towns and villages, hoping to find an older woman with strong magic who was somehow overlooked in earlier searches.
Ven and Alet soon find Naelin, a responsible married woman with an irresponsible husband and two young children, and extremely powerful magic that she has tried to deny and hide, afraid of the consequences of attracting the spirits’ attention to herself and her family by use of her magic. So Naelin has absolutely no desire to develop control of her magic, leave her village, become an heir to the queen, or ANYTHING else that Ven wants and needs her to do. “I don’t want to be a candidate for queen!” (and its corollaries, “I don’t want my power” and “I just want a quiet life”) is her constant refrain. It gets rather tiresome, though it’s a necessary component of the plot.
Meanwhile, Queen Daleina’s former lover Hamon, a healer, is madly trying to find a cure for the False Death. He’s so desperate that he even calls in his amoral mother Garnah, a brilliant and immensely gifted healer, to help.
Naelin and Garnah, the two primary new characters introduced in The Reluctant Queen, are a welcome addition to the series. While both are intriguing and well-rounded characters, they vividly contrast with each other in their outlooks on life and treatment of others. Naelin has a deep concern for others and a protective instinct, while Garnah uses others cold-bloodedly to advance her own purposes. I expected to detest Garnah thoroughly, but she surprised me by being a more intelligent and enjoyable character than I had expected. She ended up being one of my favorite characters in the book … though I’d hate to have to deal with her in real life, especially if I were standing in the way of her goals! Daleina remains a presence in The Reluctant Queen, visibly matured from the untried girl she was in The Queen of Blood. Merecot, a memorably gifted and ruthlessly ambitious young woman from Daleina’s days at the academy, also makes a welcome reappearance.
Naelin is a rarity for a main character in fantasy literature, a mature woman with children. It was fascinating to see her point of view as an older person with more life experience. Naelin has a strong mama bear streak, and gets understandably impatient when Ven tries to forcibly push her through training without explaining things to her or taking her opinion into account:
“Champion Ven is not making good choices,” Naelin told her daughter, “so we are going to give him a little time by himself to think about what he’s done.”Though The Reluctant Queen shares a similar “train a magical heir as queen” story line with The Queen of Blood as a primary plot element, the differences between the two women who are the subject of the training in each book, along with other elements of the plot, are dissimilar enough that I never got bored. The ending is obviously setting up the story for the next book in this series, more overtly and less smoothly than I would have liked, especially since it involves suddenly opening up some new issues and conflicts as hooks to that forthcoming story. Still, THE QUEENS OF RENTHIA series is an engaging fantasy world with great characters, and I’m looking forward to the next book.
“Oooh,” Erian said to him, “You’re in trouble. Once Mama locked Father out of the house for a whole night, even though it was raining. He got very wet before she threw him a tent.”
I received a free copy of this book from the author for review. Thank you!
July 7, 2017
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 and how to deal with recalcitrant goats, which comes in handy later. They are always strong women, "handsome," and with a sense of humor . . . and always not around by chapter 2, except as flashbacks or internal voices. But here's a mom who is the star of the show, along with other characters of various ages and genders, even another mother who, by contract, is quite horrifying. Added to that we've got a layered and fascinating plot, plenty of action, more creepy spirits, and yet more super intelligent wolf sidekick awesomeness.
Also, a dumbwaiter. This is the second book I've read recently that featured a dumbwaiter. They seem handy, I should get one!
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 and how to deal with recalcitrant goats, which comes in handy later. They are always strong women, "handsome," and with a sense of humor . . . and always not around by chapter 2, except as flashbacks or internal voices. But here's a mom who is the star of the show, along with other characters of various ages and genders, even another mother who, by contract, is quite horrifying. Added to that we've got a layered and fascinating plot, plenty of action, more creepy spirits, and yet more super intelligent wolf sidekick awesomeness.
Also, a dumbwaiter. This is the second book I've read recently that featured a dumbwaiter. They seem handy, I should get one!
July 2, 2025
I really enjoyed most of The Reluctant Queen. In some aspects, it was much better than the prequel, but in others it was worse, and I still liked the first book more overall.
Spoilers below!
What I liked:
- naelin being the opposite of daleina and her momma sass towards ven
- the murder mystery and the murderer's identity; it was a good/impactful choice for that person to have done it
- hamon's mum and arin
- the family dynamics between naelin and her kids; how she handled explaining the situation with their father to them
What I was meh about:
- naelin and ven's romance; very meh, and ven sure moved on fast
- no one knowing alet's origins. what? they don't do background checks on royal guard members?
- the reveal of the candidate murderer, a pretty cliché and badly executed scene
What I disliked:
- being told and believing that naelin is a momma bear, but then she constantly leaves her kids without supervision and somehow doesn't know they're alone??
- how could only a few candidates say the choose command if every woman in arratay has to?
- how is daleina not dead or at least under the protection of the new queen?
Spoilers below!
What I liked:
- naelin being the opposite of daleina and her momma sass towards ven
- the murder mystery and the murderer's identity; it was a good/impactful choice for that person to have done it
- hamon's mum and arin
- the family dynamics between naelin and her kids; how she handled explaining the situation with their father to them
What I was meh about:
- naelin and ven's romance; very meh, and ven sure moved on fast
- no one knowing alet's origins. what? they don't do background checks on royal guard members?
- the reveal of the candidate murderer, a pretty cliché and badly executed scene
What I disliked:
- being told and believing that naelin is a momma bear, but then she constantly leaves her kids without supervision and somehow doesn't know they're alone??
- how could only a few candidates say the choose command if every woman in arratay has to?
- how is daleina not dead or at least under the protection of the new queen?
January 19, 2019
Once again, being in this magical yet bloodthirsty world was an amazing experience. I love the setting and the magic system so so much.
Everything has a spirt - the earth, the wind, water, fire, ice or the wood of the great trees themselves on which the people of Aratay live. And those spirits crave one thing - violent death of all humankind. The only thing standing between their wish is the Queen of each land, who gains the ultimate power over them in a sacred ritual. But what if the Queen's control starts slipping away one day?
This series is told from multiple POVS and I really enjoyed all of them. My ultimately favourite characters would be Champion Ven and Daleina, who once again get their own POVs. There is also the new addition of Naelin (new main heroine) and her children. As well as the addition of a few other side characters - like healer Hamon's creepy mother, the Queen's younger sister or Captain Alet.
Overall, I enjoyed the storytelling aspect of it as well as the characters themselves. I liked how neither Daleina, nor now Naelin were your typical YA-ish 'special snowflake' heroines and both of them had clear, distinctive voices, very much recognizable from each other as well as the other POVs.
On a side note: This second book doesn't entirely reads like YA to me anymore, it's easy and approachable book to get into just like the first, but it seems to me like a mix of adult and YA fantasy. Like the fact that most of the main characters are adults in this sequel.
Overall, go check this series out! It's a great fantasy story to get lost in!
Everything has a spirt - the earth, the wind, water, fire, ice or the wood of the great trees themselves on which the people of Aratay live. And those spirits crave one thing - violent death of all humankind. The only thing standing between their wish is the Queen of each land, who gains the ultimate power over them in a sacred ritual. But what if the Queen's control starts slipping away one day?
This series is told from multiple POVS and I really enjoyed all of them. My ultimately favourite characters would be Champion Ven and Daleina, who once again get their own POVs. There is also the new addition of Naelin (new main heroine) and her children. As well as the addition of a few other side characters - like healer Hamon's creepy mother, the Queen's younger sister or Captain Alet.
Overall, I enjoyed the storytelling aspect of it as well as the characters themselves. I liked how neither Daleina, nor now Naelin were your typical YA-ish 'special snowflake' heroines and both of them had clear, distinctive voices, very much recognizable from each other as well as the other POVs.
On a side note: This second book doesn't entirely reads like YA to me anymore, it's easy and approachable book to get into just like the first, but it seems to me like a mix of adult and YA fantasy. Like the fact that most of the main characters are adults in this sequel.
Overall, go check this series out! It's a great fantasy story to get lost in!
August 16, 2017
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.
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.
November 23, 2022
I think I almost like this one better than the first? Maybe? I don't know, but I love them both. This definitely doesn't suffer from second book syndrome, which is all I ever ask for. We see so much more of this world and from such different perspectives, but it doesn't take away from everything we've learned from the last book. It sets it up perfectly to learn even more about the wider world in the third book, and I am READY
June 14, 2018
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 regular reader of YA fantasy, I really appreciate that. I'll be reading the The Queen of Sorrow soon, and given the set up for events here, the third book promises to be a pretty exciting conclusion to the story.
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 regular reader of YA fantasy, I really appreciate that. I'll be reading the The Queen of Sorrow soon, and given the set up for events here, the third book promises to be a pretty exciting conclusion to the story.
August 26, 2024
"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 in The Queens of Renthia series, and if you have not read The Queen of Blood yet, don't read the first paragraph of this review because you will be spoiled for the first book. I've warned you. If you would like, go check out my glowing review of the first book.
SPOILERS
Daleina is the queen of Aratay, but soon discovers some shocking news: she is dying. With only a short time left to live, Daleina must find an heir to the throne, in the hopes of securing the safety of the land. Hamon, healer and consort to the queen, vows to find a cure, and Ven, Champion and former captain of the guard, goes out in search of an heir. He soon finds Naelin, a badass woods-woman who has an affinity for controlling spirits, and who will do anything to protect her children. But Naelin doesn't want anything to do with the power she possesses, and as Daleina's power weakens, Queen Merecot of Semo in the North threatens to invade. As the spirits become more emboldened, Naelin realizes she must risk everything to keep her family safe.
END OF SPOILERS
...
This sequel was fantastic.
I can't begin to describe the love I have for this series. It's stunning. And I'm surprised that so many people haven't read it.
It has everything you could ever want out of a fantasy series. Fantastic, multidimensional characters, vivid magic, political intrigue, mystery, action, minimal romance, and a gorgeous fantastical setting. The villains are all layered and entirely human; you understand their motivations, and yet you're terrified of them. Those are the best types of antagonists.
Every single page of The Reluctant Queen is drenched with beautiful writing and a foreboding sense of what is to come. From the very beginning, you're thrust into a high-stakes story full of mystery and dread. I love the characters of this series so much, and I was constantly worrying about them. I just...adore them all. So goddamn much.
The girl power in this series is also AMAZING. There are so many powerful woman in these books. Naelin is a strong, capable woman who is the mother of two children. She'll do anything to keep them safe, even if it means hiding the power within her. She grows so much throughout this book. Seeing her come into her abilities made me so proud. I LOVE HER. Her and Ven's blooming relationship was also delightful.
And Daleina...my sweet Daleina. I've loved her unconditionally since book 1. She's badass, intuitive, clever, and knows her limits. She's the queen that Aratay deserves, and the fact that she was in this book? I couldn't keep it together, man. It physically hurt at times. But even then, Daleina still fought for her people and did everything she could to protect them. She's resilient and beautiful and I LOVE HER. SHE'S MY PRECIOUS CHILD.
I even liked Naelin's two kids, Erian and Llor. They were so damn cute, and I don't know, just hearing what little kids have to say is so entertaining. They get straight to the point, for sure. And seeing Naelin's complete and utter devotion to her family was so beautiful. If I ever have children, I'd strive to be as good of a mother as her.
There was never a dull moment in this book. The story was expertly plotted. The characters were all developed masterfully, and there were even some new characters that caught me off guard. Garnah, for instance, was insane. She's cunning, manipulative, and surprisingly...likable? I can't wait to read more about her in the next installment.
And the writing. Goodness, it was gorgeous. Durst perfectly captures the gorgeous setting of Aratay: the palace and the woods beyond, the dwellings perched in the branches of massive trees. I love this world. I feel so at home in it.
The ending, also, was completely explosive. I couldn't breathe. The next book can't come soon enough. Truly, I was shaking when I turned that final page. It's that good.
This series is so underrated. Like I said before, not enough people have read it. Please, if you like fantasy and are looking for something different, please pick this up. I want to scream my love for this series from the top of a mountain.
*shoves the first two books into your hands* READ THIS SERIES. PLEASE AND THANK YOU.
I can't contain my need for the third book. It'll probably destroy my life, but it'll be so worth it.
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 in The Queens of Renthia series, and if you have not read The Queen of Blood yet, don't read the first paragraph of this review because you will be spoiled for the first book. I've warned you. If you would like, go check out my glowing review of the first book.
SPOILERS
Daleina is the queen of Aratay, but soon discovers some shocking news: she is dying. With only a short time left to live, Daleina must find an heir to the throne, in the hopes of securing the safety of the land. Hamon, healer and consort to the queen, vows to find a cure, and Ven, Champion and former captain of the guard, goes out in search of an heir. He soon finds Naelin, a badass woods-woman who has an affinity for controlling spirits, and who will do anything to protect her children. But Naelin doesn't want anything to do with the power she possesses, and as Daleina's power weakens, Queen Merecot of Semo in the North threatens to invade. As the spirits become more emboldened, Naelin realizes she must risk everything to keep her family safe.
END OF SPOILERS
...
This sequel was fantastic.
I can't begin to describe the love I have for this series. It's stunning. And I'm surprised that so many people haven't read it.
It has everything you could ever want out of a fantasy series. Fantastic, multidimensional characters, vivid magic, political intrigue, mystery, action, minimal romance, and a gorgeous fantastical setting. The villains are all layered and entirely human; you understand their motivations, and yet you're terrified of them. Those are the best types of antagonists.
Every single page of The Reluctant Queen is drenched with beautiful writing and a foreboding sense of what is to come. From the very beginning, you're thrust into a high-stakes story full of mystery and dread. I love the characters of this series so much, and I was constantly worrying about them. I just...adore them all. So goddamn much.
The girl power in this series is also AMAZING. There are so many powerful woman in these books. Naelin is a strong, capable woman who is the mother of two children. She'll do anything to keep them safe, even if it means hiding the power within her. She grows so much throughout this book. Seeing her come into her abilities made me so proud. I LOVE HER. Her and Ven's blooming relationship was also delightful.
And Daleina...my sweet Daleina. I've loved her unconditionally since book 1. She's badass, intuitive, clever, and knows her limits. She's the queen that Aratay deserves, and the fact that she was in this book? I couldn't keep it together, man. It physically hurt at times. But even then, Daleina still fought for her people and did everything she could to protect them. She's resilient and beautiful and I LOVE HER. SHE'S MY PRECIOUS CHILD.
I even liked Naelin's two kids, Erian and Llor. They were so damn cute, and I don't know, just hearing what little kids have to say is so entertaining. They get straight to the point, for sure. And seeing Naelin's complete and utter devotion to her family was so beautiful. If I ever have children, I'd strive to be as good of a mother as her.
There was never a dull moment in this book. The story was expertly plotted. The characters were all developed masterfully, and there were even some new characters that caught me off guard. Garnah, for instance, was insane. She's cunning, manipulative, and surprisingly...likable? I can't wait to read more about her in the next installment.
And the writing. Goodness, it was gorgeous. Durst perfectly captures the gorgeous setting of Aratay: the palace and the woods beyond, the dwellings perched in the branches of massive trees. I love this world. I feel so at home in it.
The ending, also, was completely explosive. I couldn't breathe. The next book can't come soon enough. Truly, I was shaking when I turned that final page. It's that good.
This series is so underrated. Like I said before, not enough people have read it. Please, if you like fantasy and are looking for something different, please pick this up. I want to scream my love for this series from the top of a mountain.
*shoves the first two books into your hands* READ THIS SERIES. PLEASE AND THANK YOU.
I can't contain my need for the third book. It'll probably destroy my life, but it'll be so worth it.
July 17, 2024
✅ Magic
✅ World-building
✅ Plot / Intrigue
✅ Pace
✅ Action
✅ Characters
The Reluctant Queen takes place 6 months after the end of The Queen of Blood. Deleina is now queen of Aratay, but she needs to find an heir quickly because she is dying... This book was more about political intrigues and criminal investigation. In the first book, Daleina trains non stop and faces many trials, there is a lot of movement and action. In this sequel, it's more about finding and training an heir, protecting Aratay, and investigating crimes that happened in the royal palace. As if that was not enough, there is the matter of queen Merecot of Semo (yes, the same Merecot that was friend with Daleina in Queen of Blood) trying to invade Aratay with her army and her spirits.
The tome was different, but the story was as good. Daleina is more mature, she takes her role as a queen quite seriously and she shows us once again that she can be brave and selfless. There is a little (very little) bit of romance, but overall, this book is more mature than your average YA fantasy, not because some of the main characters are older, but because romance and sentimental dramas do not take as much place in this book as they do in many other series.
There are a few new characters in this book. One I found quite fascinating is Hamon's mother. She is painted as an evil and coldhearted woman who does not think twice before she poisons someone, but even at the end of the book, I could not really understand what her intentions towards Daleina were. I know that she is very self-centered, but besides that, I'm not sure if she is a threat or if she merely wishes to stay in contact with Hamon. We also meet Naelin, a fierce mother and woodswoman who spent her life trying to hide and get rid of her powers. She hopes for a quiet and happy life, but she is forced to face her fears and to rise tall and strong to save her children and maybe all of Aratay. She was just an amazing character, I really liked her.
1. The Queen of Blood ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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✅ World-building
✅ Plot / Intrigue
✅ Pace
✅ Action
✅ Characters
The Reluctant Queen takes place 6 months after the end of The Queen of Blood. Deleina is now queen of Aratay, but she needs to find an heir quickly because she is dying... This book was more about political intrigues and criminal investigation. In the first book, Daleina trains non stop and faces many trials, there is a lot of movement and action. In this sequel, it's more about finding and training an heir, protecting Aratay, and investigating crimes that happened in the royal palace. As if that was not enough, there is the matter of queen Merecot of Semo (yes, the same Merecot that was friend with Daleina in Queen of Blood) trying to invade Aratay with her army and her spirits.
The tome was different, but the story was as good. Daleina is more mature, she takes her role as a queen quite seriously and she shows us once again that she can be brave and selfless. There is a little (very little) bit of romance, but overall, this book is more mature than your average YA fantasy, not because some of the main characters are older, but because romance and sentimental dramas do not take as much place in this book as they do in many other series.
There are a few new characters in this book. One I found quite fascinating is Hamon's mother. She is painted as an evil and coldhearted woman who does not think twice before she poisons someone, but even at the end of the book, I could not really understand what her intentions towards Daleina were. I know that she is very self-centered, but besides that, I'm not sure if she is a threat or if she merely wishes to stay in contact with Hamon. We also meet Naelin, a fierce mother and woodswoman who spent her life trying to hide and get rid of her powers. She hopes for a quiet and happy life, but she is forced to face her fears and to rise tall and strong to save her children and maybe all of Aratay. She was just an amazing character, I really liked her.
1. The Queen of Blood ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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November 4, 2019
1) The Queen of Blood ★★★★☆
"The two things that a true queen needs are the instinct to survive and the instinct to protect."
After finishing the second book of this trilogy, I'm even more confused about the reason this series isn't as popular as others YA fantasy on goodreads. I could understand if after the first book it became bad, but it's the opposite. This universe and the characters are amazing. I honestly have no idea why it's so underrated, maybe because the covers aren't attractive for many people? I find them great, but when I see the YA fantasy covers getting the most love around here, it might be one of the reasons. Anyway, just like I said in my review of the first book, if you want a YA fantasy that's not cliché, that will introduce you to a great universe and magic system and well written characters, you should definitely pick up The Queens of Renthia trilogy. I'm not even taking a break from the series this time, I'm directly reading the third book.
In this second novel, Daleina is now queen but there will be many, many complications. I'll keep it spoilers free, but you won't be bored a minute. Just like in the first book, her character is interesting and well written, the author never falling into any YA boring trope. There are also new characters introduced in this book, my favorite being Naelin. But the others are just as interesting and well written, Sarah Beth Durst obviously not throwing new characters on pages just to add anything new, but to add something or someone that makes sense in this story. I also agree with others readers who said this book might be read as adult fantasy, as I think it's a more mature read than most YA novels, but if you only read YA fantasy, I'm pretty sure it can also work, don't worry.
"The two things that a true queen needs are the instinct to survive and the instinct to protect."
After finishing the second book of this trilogy, I'm even more confused about the reason this series isn't as popular as others YA fantasy on goodreads. I could understand if after the first book it became bad, but it's the opposite. This universe and the characters are amazing. I honestly have no idea why it's so underrated, maybe because the covers aren't attractive for many people? I find them great, but when I see the YA fantasy covers getting the most love around here, it might be one of the reasons. Anyway, just like I said in my review of the first book, if you want a YA fantasy that's not cliché, that will introduce you to a great universe and magic system and well written characters, you should definitely pick up The Queens of Renthia trilogy. I'm not even taking a break from the series this time, I'm directly reading the third book.
In this second novel, Daleina is now queen but there will be many, many complications. I'll keep it spoilers free, but you won't be bored a minute. Just like in the first book, her character is interesting and well written, the author never falling into any YA boring trope. There are also new characters introduced in this book, my favorite being Naelin. But the others are just as interesting and well written, Sarah Beth Durst obviously not throwing new characters on pages just to add anything new, but to add something or someone that makes sense in this story. I also agree with others readers who said this book might be read as adult fantasy, as I think it's a more mature read than most YA novels, but if you only read YA fantasy, I'm pretty sure it can also work, don't worry.
January 10, 2021
باورم نمیشه اینقدر یه پایان ناامیدکننده باشه! من که دیوانهوار کتاب اول رو دوست داشتم،منتظر بودم مائده رو مجبور کنم این مجموعه رو بخونه، این پایان فیلم هندیطورجوابم نبود!! :((((
سهمیه کتابم امسال خیلی کمه و کمتر از اون ژانر فانتزیه! قرار بود فقط این مجموعه رو بخونم! فانتزی برام روی لبه بود و حالا این کتاب انقدر ناامیدم کرد که دلم میخواست اضافهاش نکنم، تا یه عدد باارزش از چالشم بره!!
درد و دلهای عمیق یه فنگرل ناامید رو میخونید...
جمعه ۱۹ دی ۹۸
سهمیه کتابم امسال خیلی کمه و کمتر از اون ژانر فانتزیه! قرار بود فقط این مجموعه رو بخونم! فانتزی برام روی لبه بود و حالا این کتاب انقدر ناامیدم کرد که دلم میخواست اضافهاش نکنم، تا یه عدد باارزش از چالشم بره!!
درد و دلهای عمیق یه فنگرل ناامید رو میخونید...
جمعه ۱۹ دی ۹۸
December 14, 2019
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.
It took we a while to get back to this series, even though I enjoyed the first book when I read it. It had been a while so I wasn't sure if I was still going to be into the story, but I shouldn't have worried, this ended up being just as good as the first book. That being said, it was a bit different.
In this book we are introduced to some new characters. I ended up liking all of them, especially Naelin. As another reviewer said, it was refreshing to have an older protagonist in this story, in this case a mother of two children. I liked her story arc and what ultimately ends up happening with her character. It was easy to predict how things would end up in the end with the queens, and who was behind the bad things that were happening, but that didn't ruin the book for me. With the way this book left things, I'm eager to read the last book in the trilogy.
On a side note- There seems to be a bit of confusion as to whether this is YA or not. It certainly reads like a YA book, and most people seem to be categorizing it as YA, but the author lists this under her adult category on her webpage, so I'm calling it adult.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
And those spirits want to kill you.
It’s the first lesson that every Renthian learns.
It took we a while to get back to this series, even though I enjoyed the first book when I read it. It had been a while so I wasn't sure if I was still going to be into the story, but I shouldn't have worried, this ended up being just as good as the first book. That being said, it was a bit different.
In this book we are introduced to some new characters. I ended up liking all of them, especially Naelin. As another reviewer said, it was refreshing to have an older protagonist in this story, in this case a mother of two children. I liked her story arc and what ultimately ends up happening with her character. It was easy to predict how things would end up in the end with the queens, and who was behind the bad things that were happening, but that didn't ruin the book for me. With the way this book left things, I'm eager to read the last book in the trilogy.
On a side note- There seems to be a bit of confusion as to whether this is YA or not. It certainly reads like a YA book, and most people seem to be categorizing it as YA, but the author lists this under her adult category on her webpage, so I'm calling it adult.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
September 29, 2019
Im Großen und Ganzen hat mir das Buch schon besser gefallen als der Vorgänger.
Die ungewöhnliche magische Welt von Renthia konnte mich diesmal nicht umreißen, aber es war schon angenehm, dass man sich schon etwas auskannte, so habe ich mich jedenfalls wohl gefühlt.
Was mich am ersten Buch zwar nicht gestört hat, was ich hier aber auch überhaupt nicht vermisst habe, war das schnelle Tempo. Während dort Jahre vergingen und man Daleinas Entwicklung von einem Mädchen zur jungen Frau verfolgte, vergingen hier nur paar Wochen. Und es wurde trotzdem definitiv nicht langweilig!
Wir haben hier wieder die bekannten Charaktere wie Daleina, Ven und Hamon, aber auch die neue Thronanwärterin Naelin, die eigentlich definitiv nicht Königin werden will. Sie will nur ein gewöhnliches Leben führen, denn sie weiß auch, wie gefährlich Geister sind und wie sie sich selbst in Gefahr begeben würde - und ihre Kinder, die sie über alles liebt. Sie ist hingebungsvoll und leidenschaftlich, wenn es um ihre Lieben geht und beschützt sie mit Leib und Seele, aber sie will nicht die Verantwortung für ein ganzes Königreich tragen müssen.
Aber Daleina braucht sie. Ihre plötzliche Rolle als Königin kam unerwartet, aber sie setzt sich für ihr Reich ein. Doch sie ist am Sterben und auch wenn sie nur kurz die Kontrolle verliert, stürzen sich die Geister direkt auf alle Menschen und wollen sie vernichten. Darum stehen sie und ihre Nächsten unter furchtbarem Druck, man spürt ihre Verzweiflung und ihren Kampf für sich selbst und für ihr Königreich.
Ich mochte an dem Buch auch, dass es klarer strukturiert ist und man der Handlung viel besser folgen kann. Wirklich überraschen konnte es mich nicht, auch wenn ich es durchaus spannend fand. Wir wollen dringend eine Nachfolgerin für Daleina finden und das ist stressig, hektisch, verzweifelt, spannend und das alles macht es zu einem guten und interessanten Fantasy-Roman.
Fazit
Mit "Die Todeskönigin" ist eine wirklich gute Fortsetzung gelungen und ich freue mich schon sehr auf weitere Bücher der Reihe!
Die ungewöhnliche magische Welt von Renthia konnte mich diesmal nicht umreißen, aber es war schon angenehm, dass man sich schon etwas auskannte, so habe ich mich jedenfalls wohl gefühlt.
Was mich am ersten Buch zwar nicht gestört hat, was ich hier aber auch überhaupt nicht vermisst habe, war das schnelle Tempo. Während dort Jahre vergingen und man Daleinas Entwicklung von einem Mädchen zur jungen Frau verfolgte, vergingen hier nur paar Wochen. Und es wurde trotzdem definitiv nicht langweilig!
Wir haben hier wieder die bekannten Charaktere wie Daleina, Ven und Hamon, aber auch die neue Thronanwärterin Naelin, die eigentlich definitiv nicht Königin werden will. Sie will nur ein gewöhnliches Leben führen, denn sie weiß auch, wie gefährlich Geister sind und wie sie sich selbst in Gefahr begeben würde - und ihre Kinder, die sie über alles liebt. Sie ist hingebungsvoll und leidenschaftlich, wenn es um ihre Lieben geht und beschützt sie mit Leib und Seele, aber sie will nicht die Verantwortung für ein ganzes Königreich tragen müssen.
Aber Daleina braucht sie. Ihre plötzliche Rolle als Königin kam unerwartet, aber sie setzt sich für ihr Reich ein. Doch sie ist am Sterben und auch wenn sie nur kurz die Kontrolle verliert, stürzen sich die Geister direkt auf alle Menschen und wollen sie vernichten. Darum stehen sie und ihre Nächsten unter furchtbarem Druck, man spürt ihre Verzweiflung und ihren Kampf für sich selbst und für ihr Königreich.
Ich mochte an dem Buch auch, dass es klarer strukturiert ist und man der Handlung viel besser folgen kann. Wirklich überraschen konnte es mich nicht, auch wenn ich es durchaus spannend fand. Wir wollen dringend eine Nachfolgerin für Daleina finden und das ist stressig, hektisch, verzweifelt, spannend und das alles macht es zu einem guten und interessanten Fantasy-Roman.
Fazit
Mit "Die Todeskönigin" ist eine wirklich gute Fortsetzung gelungen und ich freue mich schon sehr auf weitere Bücher der Reihe!
April 25, 2018
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 calling you the Queen of Blood. Now they call you Queen Daleina the Fearless."
"The only fearless people I've ever met were frightfully stupid."
This one wasn't half as funny, and that thing I wanted so bad after book one is definitely not happening (and yay for Durst for completely bulldozing all expectations and tropes), but it was twisty and full of betrayal and heartbreak and sacrifice and unexpected things. But for all the good, there were bits I didn't like, bits I want to overlook.. and I might. I might actually come back and round this up. But for now..
3.5 "I'm really excited for the finale" stars
"They're no longer calling you the Queen of Blood. Now they call you Queen Daleina the Fearless."
"The only fearless people I've ever met were frightfully stupid."
This one wasn't half as funny, and that thing I wanted so bad after book one is definitely not happening (and yay for Durst for completely bulldozing all expectations and tropes), but it was twisty and full of betrayal and heartbreak and sacrifice and unexpected things. But for all the good, there were bits I didn't like, bits I want to overlook.. and I might. I might actually come back and round this up. But for now..
3.5 "I'm really excited for the finale" stars
Want to read
February 10, 2017As long as Merecot is in this one, I'm happy.
June 26, 2020
4,5 stars
This series is highly unappreciated. It has wonderful worldubilding and great representation of female characters.
The second novel in The Queen of Renthia series was even better than the first. There now more perspectives and more characters that are important to the story. One of them is Naelin, a mother of two who would make a good queen. Honestly, I am no mother and rarely I appreciate characters who are, but I really liked Naelin, her determination and her love for her children.
There's less of Daleina in the story but she stays strong and capable. I also liked side character like Arin, Daleina's sister or healer Hamon and his mother, who was a surprise. And, of course, there's Ven, always loyal and doing his best.
The prose is very well crafted, the whole novel was easily paced and comfortable to read. I enjoyed it very much.
This series is highly unappreciated. It has wonderful worldubilding and great representation of female characters.
The second novel in The Queen of Renthia series was even better than the first. There now more perspectives and more characters that are important to the story. One of them is Naelin, a mother of two who would make a good queen. Honestly, I am no mother and rarely I appreciate characters who are, but I really liked Naelin, her determination and her love for her children.
There's less of Daleina in the story but she stays strong and capable. I also liked side character like Arin, Daleina's sister or healer Hamon and his mother, who was a surprise. And, of course, there's Ven, always loyal and doing his best.
The prose is very well crafted, the whole novel was easily paced and comfortable to read. I enjoyed it very much.
October 1, 2017
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 between her and Ven was both boring and predictable. I don't know if it was that necessary to include an abusive relationship at the beginning of the book.
This series is overwhelmingly straight. It's a matriarchy and all main characters are straight? Boring.
There were also some descriptions I didn't like.
A minor character with "mottled" brown skin looked "carven out of wood" and reminded the queen of her little sister's doll. Was that necessary? I may be wrong (I skimmed), but the book never focuses on the skin color of the other characters.
One of the "evil" characters is described with a cliché I hate: "She [...] even claimed to love him [her husband], though I doubt she has the ability to love anyone." Evil doesn't mean "doesn't feel romantic love" and "doesn't feel romantic love" doesn't mean evil; aromantic people exist and they are not evil.
I also have a review on blogger (in Italian).
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 between her and Ven was both boring and predictable. I don't know if it was that necessary to include an abusive relationship at the beginning of the book.
This series is overwhelmingly straight. It's a matriarchy and all main characters are straight? Boring.
There were also some descriptions I didn't like.
A minor character with "mottled" brown skin looked "carven out of wood" and reminded the queen of her little sister's doll. Was that necessary? I may be wrong (I skimmed), but the book never focuses on the skin color of the other characters.
One of the "evil" characters is described with a cliché I hate: "She [...] even claimed to love him [her husband], though I doubt she has the ability to love anyone." Evil doesn't mean "doesn't feel romantic love" and "doesn't feel romantic love" doesn't mean evil; aromantic people exist and they are not evil.
I also have a review on blogger (in Italian).
December 17, 2018
This series is so underrated.
October 11, 2023
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up. In the beginning I found the stubbornness of the new POV character a little obnoxious. But her relationship with her kids quickly won me over and this world is just so cool. Can’t wait to get book 3, some of the twists and reveals in this one got my blood pumping for sure.
December 19, 2018
Schon der erste Band hatte mich sehr begeistert und ich war mega gespannt wie es weitergehen wird - und gleich zu Beginn gab es eine große Überraschung, mit der ich so gar nicht gerechnet hatte ... hätte ich nicht den Klappentext gelesen. War ein bisschen doof, aber gut. Ich hab mich trotzdem gefreut, wieder in diese wunderbare und auch gefährliche Welt einzutauchen, in der es von Naturgeistern nur so wimmelt.
Die Menschen in Renthia sind zum Teil auf diese Geister angewiesen, denn wenn man Macht über sie hat, können sie vieles bewirken. Allerdings sind sie auch launisch, so dass ihre Willkür auch gerne mal in böswillige und zerstörerische Neigungen umschlagen können. Doch dafür gibt es die Königin, deren einzigartige Stärke die absolute Kontrolle beinhaltet, mit der sie Geister im ganzen Land "ruhig stellen" kann. Die Magie hier finde ich wunderschön, besonders und auch grandios beschrieben, überhaupt ist der Schreibstil sehr einnehmend und lässt großartige Bilder beim Lesen entstehen!
Natürlich gibt es aber wieder jede Menge Probleme, die auf Daleina und Ven warten, zwei Charaktere die man schon aus dem ersten Band kennt. Aber auch der Heiler Hamon muss sich Hilfe holen mit einer Person, die er lieber komplett aus seinem Leben gestrichen hätte und wir lernen eine ganz neue und wichtige Figur kennen: Naelin. Sie ist ein toller Charakter und hat sehr schön wiedergespiegelt, was im Leben wirklich wichtig ist: die Familie. Das ist ein sehr zentrales Thema in diesem Band, die Zufriedenheit mit dem wenigen, wenn man nur glücklich ist und es den Menschen, die man liebt gut geht. Ohne Streben nach Macht oder überhaupt nach mehr, sondern mit der Genügsamkeit für das dankbar zu sein, was man hat.
Demgegenüber steht allerdings auch die Verantwortung, von seiner Macht Gebrauch zu machen, wenn sie nötig ist. Die Verluste in Kauf zu nehmen, die diese Pflicht in Anspruch nimmt. Hier wurde mir allerdings zu oft auf dem Thema herumgeritten. Es stellt sich ziemlich klar dar, aber es wurde mir dennoch zu wiederholt darauf hingewiesen und überhaupt recht viel repetiert, was einfach nicht nötig gewesen wäre.
Die Handlung an sich geht gut voran, war mir aber auch an manchen Stellen doch zu sehr gebremst. An sich wusste man ziemlich gut wie es verlaufen würde und dennoch wurden die Entscheidungen hier zu sehr hinausgezögert. Dafür gab es aber auch einige Überraschungen, auch mit anderen Figuren die eine wichtige Rolle eingenommen haben und auch die Spannung nahm gegen Ende immer mehr zu. Es werden auch einige Intrigen gesponnen, von denen man hinter eine recht schnell kommt, während man bei der anderen, zumindest ich, bis zum Ende im Dunkeln getappt bin, wodurch die Aufklärung wirklich überraschend war.
Insgesamt hat mir die Fortsetzung wirklich gut gefallen da es viele neue Aspekte gibt am Ende auch wieder neue Herausforderungen für den letzten Band, die mich sehr neugierig gemacht haben und die auf ein spannendes Finale hoffen lassen. Ich kann die Reihe absolut empfehlen und hoffe, dass Teil 3 nicht mehr so lange auf sich warten lässt.
© Aleshanee
Weltenwanderer
Die Menschen in Renthia sind zum Teil auf diese Geister angewiesen, denn wenn man Macht über sie hat, können sie vieles bewirken. Allerdings sind sie auch launisch, so dass ihre Willkür auch gerne mal in böswillige und zerstörerische Neigungen umschlagen können. Doch dafür gibt es die Königin, deren einzigartige Stärke die absolute Kontrolle beinhaltet, mit der sie Geister im ganzen Land "ruhig stellen" kann. Die Magie hier finde ich wunderschön, besonders und auch grandios beschrieben, überhaupt ist der Schreibstil sehr einnehmend und lässt großartige Bilder beim Lesen entstehen!
Natürlich gibt es aber wieder jede Menge Probleme, die auf Daleina und Ven warten, zwei Charaktere die man schon aus dem ersten Band kennt. Aber auch der Heiler Hamon muss sich Hilfe holen mit einer Person, die er lieber komplett aus seinem Leben gestrichen hätte und wir lernen eine ganz neue und wichtige Figur kennen: Naelin. Sie ist ein toller Charakter und hat sehr schön wiedergespiegelt, was im Leben wirklich wichtig ist: die Familie. Das ist ein sehr zentrales Thema in diesem Band, die Zufriedenheit mit dem wenigen, wenn man nur glücklich ist und es den Menschen, die man liebt gut geht. Ohne Streben nach Macht oder überhaupt nach mehr, sondern mit der Genügsamkeit für das dankbar zu sein, was man hat.
Demgegenüber steht allerdings auch die Verantwortung, von seiner Macht Gebrauch zu machen, wenn sie nötig ist. Die Verluste in Kauf zu nehmen, die diese Pflicht in Anspruch nimmt. Hier wurde mir allerdings zu oft auf dem Thema herumgeritten. Es stellt sich ziemlich klar dar, aber es wurde mir dennoch zu wiederholt darauf hingewiesen und überhaupt recht viel repetiert, was einfach nicht nötig gewesen wäre.
Die Handlung an sich geht gut voran, war mir aber auch an manchen Stellen doch zu sehr gebremst. An sich wusste man ziemlich gut wie es verlaufen würde und dennoch wurden die Entscheidungen hier zu sehr hinausgezögert. Dafür gab es aber auch einige Überraschungen, auch mit anderen Figuren die eine wichtige Rolle eingenommen haben und auch die Spannung nahm gegen Ende immer mehr zu. Es werden auch einige Intrigen gesponnen, von denen man hinter eine recht schnell kommt, während man bei der anderen, zumindest ich, bis zum Ende im Dunkeln getappt bin, wodurch die Aufklärung wirklich überraschend war.
Insgesamt hat mir die Fortsetzung wirklich gut gefallen da es viele neue Aspekte gibt am Ende auch wieder neue Herausforderungen für den letzten Band, die mich sehr neugierig gemacht haben und die auf ein spannendes Finale hoffen lassen. Ich kann die Reihe absolut empfehlen und hoffe, dass Teil 3 nicht mehr so lange auf sich warten lässt.
© Aleshanee
Weltenwanderer
July 2, 2021
Such a great series, I think I enjoyed this one even more than the first.
December 29, 2017
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 calls her, and her children are great characters as well. This does suffer a little from second book syndrome though in that a lot of the developments here are setup for the action in the third book. Still, lots of development for characters we already knew and new ones as well.
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 calls her, and her children are great characters as well. This does suffer a little from second book syndrome though in that a lot of the developments here are setup for the action in the third book. Still, lots of development for characters we already knew and new ones as well.
July 25, 2023
I really liked this one! It does have the motherhood trope which is not my favorite, but despite that I still enjoyed the story. I wish we had been a bit more focused on Delena and the politics of the world rather than a new character. The beginning felt way too similar to book 1 and I just didn't feel it was entirely necessary. Overall, solid read and I can't wait to finish it out.
January 10, 2018
More action, more drama, more death and uncontrollable spirits.
It was absolutely wonderful andni cant wait for the next book!
It was absolutely wonderful andni cant wait for the next book!
December 23, 2021
Well that was emotional, dramatic and a rollercoaster as always.
August 1, 2021
3,5 Sterne für den 2. Band 😊
Für mich kam er nicht mehr ganz an den 1. Band heran. Man konnte zwar hier super miträtseln und ich wollte auch immer wissen wie es endet, aber es hatte zwischendurch doch so seine Längen und konnte mich nicht ganz so fesseln, wie ich es mir gewünscht hätte.
Für mich kam er nicht mehr ganz an den 1. Band heran. Man konnte zwar hier super miträtseln und ich wollte auch immer wissen wie es endet, aber es hatte zwischendurch doch so seine Längen und konnte mich nicht ganz so fesseln, wie ich es mir gewünscht hätte.
Read
July 14, 2017Liked 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!
August 24, 2019
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 nerve wracking story in motion. The writing is once again beautiful, and the magic that Durst weaves with Aratay is incredibly impressive - she completely transported me to the green ancient forests of Daleina's home., which itself felt almost sentient at times.
“The forests of Aratay were as vast and deep as an ocean. There were dark paths that hadn't seen sunlight in a century, as well as quiet groves of new saplings with trunks only as thick as a child's finger. A few roads, glorified animal tracks, ran on the ground between the trees, and the wire paths ran through the upper canopy, but most towns were nestled in the branches, midforest level, and connected by bridges.”
Doesn't that just sound gorgeous?
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 got on my nerves. I have no problem with "bad" characters - I liked the sneaky Garnah - but Naelin was just narrow minded 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 shook. 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.
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 nerve wracking story in motion. The writing is once again beautiful, and the magic that Durst weaves with Aratay is incredibly impressive - she completely transported me to the green ancient forests of Daleina's home., which itself felt almost sentient at times.
“The forests of Aratay were as vast and deep as an ocean. There were dark paths that hadn't seen sunlight in a century, as well as quiet groves of new saplings with trunks only as thick as a child's finger. A few roads, glorified animal tracks, ran on the ground between the trees, and the wire paths ran through the upper canopy, but most towns were nestled in the branches, midforest level, and connected by bridges.”
Doesn't that just sound gorgeous?
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 got on my nerves. I have no problem with "bad" characters - I liked the sneaky Garnah - but Naelin was just narrow minded 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 shook. 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.
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