Queensdaughter

The Queensdaughter Trilogy #1

by Amanda Ylva

Navette lives a peaceful life in her home of Osala, managing a bakery that was passed down to her and her elder sister. The night of the spring festival of Emystre arrives, and the village is laid to ruin when ancient creatures-the sk�iga-come in search of the Queensdaughter. Navette flees to the capital, where she discovers her fate as the heir to the throne and a world far more vast than she had ever imagined.




This story follows Navette as she learns how to become a queen, control her innate magic, and battle the darkness that threatens her entire world. Meanwhile, her sister Ivy remains in Osala as the people try to rebuild a village from ruin, even as the darkness returns.




In the lands of Varyn, not all is as it seems. The trees begin to whisper of danger, the dragons of old are little more than legends, and even queens have their secrets. Love and companionship are more valued than ever as Varyn begins to sink into darkness, but even after the darkest of nights, not all is lost.

Genres: Fantasy

388 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 15, 2021

Reviews

[Traveling Cloak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Queensdaughter is Amanda Ylva’s debut novel, and the first installment in the author’s The Queensdaughter Trilogy. The book follows two sisters after they are attacked by evil creatures called the skaiga. Their home destroyed, each sister must choose her path wisely.

I went back and forth a lot on where to rate this book. Looking at all the story elements, I landed on a rating of 6/10, which in my mind is an average book. After taking everything into account, I feel this rating is pretty accurate.

Queensdaughter is definitely a character-driven novel. There is a hard focus on Navette and Ivy pulling the story along, and I think this was my favorite part of the book. Each sister has her own narrative, each with its own conflict to solve. Navette has been deemed heir to the throne and struggles with this newfound knowledge and the trappings that come along with it. Trying to do what she can to help Varyn win the war against the skaiga and not knowing who she can trust, Navette is torn. Ivy, on the other hand, is trying to rebuild their village with the help of the survivors. Though she is not in the captial, Ivy has her own local politics to deal with, not to mention skaiga of her own. This is where the main suspense in the book comes from, and is the best part of the story in my opinion.

There were a few aspects of the book that did not do it for me, starting with the character decisions. All along the way I found myself questioning the plot points that put the characters in their respective places. Navette and Ivy never really challenge what is happening. Someone just says, “Navette, you are the Queensdaughter. Come with me.” And she goes, all the while missing her sister and the woman she loves. But, again, does not really do much to get back to them. Ivy is kind of the same: she just goes along with everything without critical thinking. I thought there needed to be more compelling reasons for them to roll with what was happening.

I also found the dialogue to be lacking in believability. I am on record as saying dialogue is the hardest part of a book to write, so I try not to be too critical of it. With this book, it was difficult to read without the dialogue pulling me out of the story, so I feel as thought it deserves a mention.

In contrast, I really did like the tone of the book. I am not sure if this is what Ylva was going for, but the writing gave me fairy tale vibes. An unexpected royal of destiny, whisked away to the palace. Separated from her family, each fighting evil on their own fronts. I like the inflection this aspect adds to the book. I really like the cover, too. Simple and elegant – really eye-catching.

I liked Queensdaughter enough. It has its flaws, and I cannot give it a blanket recommendation. But, I can say if you are looking for something character-driven and are a fan of fairy tales, it is worth checking out.

[Heather Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like Tolkien you will love this mystical adventure! It has characters who represent multiple minority communities which is somewhat surprising to see in a book like this but incorporated so well! Does adventure, battles and war, good vs evil, and women loving women sound good to you? THIS is what you're looking for. Written by someone who truly cares about the world they've created, it's a hard read to put down.

[Tiare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Queensdaughter is an entertaining debut novel by Amanda Ylva following two sisters and their self discovery as they come into power- both struggling with the position they're thrust into and discovering themselves and what they are capable of. While both Navette and Ivy face vastly different trials and are completely different in character, both young women are able to prove what one is capable of with the backing power of their people's trust and their trust in themselves. I enjoyed the variety of characters that make an appearance; some transient and some surprisingly not. Despite everyone's backgrounds, skills, and gifts, what truly shones through is the need humans, no matter how powerful, need each other's support to survive and thrive.

At times the plot is a little predictable, but this doesn't subtract how thoughly enjoyable Queenslayer is. Queensdaughter is throughly engaging, emotional and exciting; featuring magnificent world building and a colorful and likeable cast of characters. With themes including found family, thrilling adventure, romance, magic, and intrigue, I'm excited to see how Ylva will continue to flesh out this world!

[CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

i was lucky enough to win a copy of this novel from the author as she was doing a giveaway ( near my birthday last year actually! ) and it was sent to me soon after. i started it back in early september, planning to read while my kids were at school but i struggled to get into it-- by no fault of the author, high fantasy is just not one of my best genres to hook my attention. i believe i made it in about two chapters and set it aside to read something to my kids.

well i picked it back up again over their christmas break as something to read in the morning before they woke up and this time i got hooked! i suppose this is a SPOILER WARNING, though they are fairly vague, but just in case, i'll call it a spoiler warning.

first off, i love the LGBT+ representation-- especially llew. he was BY FAR my favorite character. trans men are so rarely represented in media that finally finding one is such a breath of fresh air. my boyfriend is a trans guy as is one of my very good friends so i was really excited to talk to them about llew! i love that it is part of his character but does not define him. his story is not dependent on passing or transitioning, it is just part of who he is.

i also loved the fact that one of the main cast of characters is disabled. allowing gwen to have an ( enchanted ) wooden arm is a really wonderful touch. i have a lot of friends that are disabled or chronically ill and to have a character that can represent them in some aspect is really lovely to see.

and of course, a female-led world is a breath of fresh air. most often i don't like a lot of high fantasy stuff because a lot of authors tend to fall into the idea that their world needs to be " realistic " or based on historical information. i've always found it so frustrating that male authors refuse to entertain the idea that women or queer or poc can be world leaders because it isn't realistic, like sir... there are dragons and magic and vampires. realism isn't an excuse.

the lore is really interesting and i love the little map in the beginning of the book. it helped me picture the world ( it actually formed some of the characters' voices in my head. my brain decided that ivy and navette have a slight american-southern accent ) and i hope that in future novels we get more maps or maybe a calendar as there were many mentions of the holidays. i'd also like to get a full or partial pantheon. mythology has always been something that i like delving into. i think the addition of a pantheon list and/or calendar would help complete the lore of this world.

about the only thing i can complain about is that often times the pace got weird, especially towards the end.

MAJOR SPOILER WARNING

the rush of fighting off the onslaught at the hit the city was fine, it was everything after that felt weird. usually ( especially knowing this was going to be a series ) i would expect the book to end with the battle, possibly even during the battle, but the battle ends and everyone starts cleaning up. that is also a good place to end. then navette isn't healed and her injuries start to change her, that is a third spot the book could have ended.... and then there is talk of seeking out a special healer in a reclusive culture. again, great place to end with them setting off but the book just kept going.

any of these would have been a great cliffhanger, setting up for the next book but it just kept going and by the end of it, there was almost an entire second book worth of events that happened in the last ten to fifteen pages. really-- those last few events could have been an entire second book. but i think that also may just be me being nitpicky.

all in all i really enjoyed this book and have already recommended it to some of my dnd teammates as well as a few witchy friends. i'm a practicing pagan and sort of dabble in the scene on tumblr, twitter and discord. i am looking forward to the next installment(s) and really look forward to seeing my favorite characters again!

[Kathryn Greisiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely amazing! The characters have so much depth, the relationships are wonderful, and the plot keeps you intrigued. If you love found family, friendship and light vs. darkness this book is for you. I could hardly put it down and I hate to say I put off reading the last chapter because I didn’t want it to end. Queensdaughter is one of the most enjoyable novels I have read in a while. Do yourself a favour and get this book!!

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and if you like fantasy setting with interesting characters and relationships, definitely give Queensdaughter a read! It's a great debut and I can't wait for the sequel!

[Madison Blixt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Consider: fantasy but inclusive. I absolutely loved this book! It was so easy to fall into the fantasy world, to care about every character. I found so much of the main character, Navette, in myself and that greatly added to my reading experience. LGBT rep! Disabled rep! Magic! Forests! Honestly, what more could you want from a fantasy novel?

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly engaging read! Relatable, deep characters set in a unique and wonderful world very much worth diving into. I highly recommend reading this book and I eagerly await the rest of the series!!

[Scooter · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the premise is interesting, it seems like the author can’t decide what story to tell, or whose story to tell. And most of the books feels like the author had specific scenes in mind that they wanted to commit to paper but forgot to fill in the story so those scenes connect.
While you would think the books would focus on the book’s namesake, there are several characters that get moments of the spotlight; Nevette, Ivy, Gwyn, & Caelva (along with several others that steal the pages here and there).
The book, while in 3rd person, is constantly changing character perspective within the same pages or paragraphs. Some are paragraphs with dialogue which take me out of the story in order to keep track of who is speaking and who is reacting since there is no separation within said paragraph.
While the queensdaughter should be the focus of the book but we hear more about her sister and other side characters than we do her. Instead of an in depth , full story focused on one character, this book is full of rushed, incomplete, & seemingly unrelated stories. Some of the story feels so rushed, that decisions start to no longer makes sense & timelines feel inconsistent & jarrinng.
Instead of exploring the characters more or moving forward in the story in a progression that would make more sense, pages are filled with character’s sentiments that are repeated over and over again along with descriptions of moments, people, or places that, too, are repeated almost verbatim or filler that isn’t actually integral to the plot. We hardly get to see characters’ relationships or how they interact before they’re separated which doesn’t allow me to connect with the longing they have for their companions. We simply don’t get enough about any of the characters to make me feel for anything for them. In fact, the most information we get about any character is Caelva, the Queensdaughter’s sister’s friend.
There is very little action that takes place. Not just fighting action, but any kind of action. Anytime something happens that lends itself to the actual plot it’s described briefly, glanced over by both author and characters, then we’re right back to being told how the characters are feeling about anything and everything.

Overall, it feels like it’s missing so much potential story. So much context. We don’t get to see the characters grow progressively, one day they just are (and who knows how much time has passed). And the ending was anticlimactic and teased at a next book. While I think this books could have worked as a series, I will not be continuing.

I would personally like to see this author pick one of the many characters she focuses on and write a full in depth novel of this character’s story in the 1st person. 1st person would help eliminate the jumping of perspectives and also allow the story to be told wholly. And if she wanted to use the backstories of the side characters she spent time focusing on, I would to see a series or even a larger book with chapters dedicated to everyone in the 1st person.

As I said in the beginning, the books premise is intriguing. Unfortunately, it failed to deliver.

[Luteia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a while to get into this, I'll admit. The pacing was a bit slow through the first half the book, and it ends on what really feels like the third or fourth major event. But this also isn't a standalone book, and if you were expecting it to read like one, it isn't going to.

This is absolutely the first book of a trilogy, and I personally feel in order to get the whole story, we're going to be reading all three books. That isn't a bad thing, but it does require a different mindset for reading which I forgot until I picked it up again today, where I'd read about a fifth, and read through the rest.

That all being said, this is an excellent book! It's clearly a bit inspired by both Celtic and Norse paganism - you said Emystre, we all know it was inspired from Ostara, and I think that was pretty cool - and I am intrigued to know where the series is going. I know the antagonists are based off depression, and I did really enjoy the book.

It's a slower-paced book, but it's an excellent afternoon read if what you're looking for is paganism with a little bit of heroics and a large cast to keep you focused.

[Orion · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is as refreshing as the shade offered by trees on a summer noon. It flows, seamlessly transitioning between narrators and viewpoints, drowning in dark one moment and oozing into light the next, as life truly happens. The realistic approach to character development, the grounded nature of each cast member, so real you could have conversations with them... this is a novel worth writing essays on. The fact that Ylva has, with their first attempt, brought to mind the verdancy and urgency of Juliet Marillier's works, and the magical realism and perspective of Ursula K. LeGuin... this is definitely an author to watch for. I anticipate greatly the remainder of this series, and weep that it shan't be upon my bedside tomorrow.

[Sam Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good read, especially for a debut novel. I love the fact that Amanda has built a world that's not only female-driven, but also has excellent LGBT representation. The characters aren't explicitly defined by their gender or sexuality, but it also isnt just a tiny brushed off detail either. As a trans man, find myself especially fond of Llew, because it's very hard to find good transmasc representation, and I think Amanda does it well, making it a definite feature of him, but not letting it define his character.

That aside, I'm absolutely in love with the worldbuilding and lore. The pantheon and mythos are intriguing, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of it fleshed out in the next books.

[Rhonda Cosby · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really good read, can't wait for the next book.

[GBall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book not being to familiar with fantasy:)
Particularly enjoyed the camaraderie between the cast of relatable characters. Great battle sequences that don’t hold back either!

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free e-book in exchange for an honest rate/review

Characters: The characters were a breath of fresh forest air. I’m not one to go look for representation in books, but boy did it make my heart happy. I especially loved the amount of likable, distinct, well-rounded female characters.

Plot & Pacing: The theme of light vs. dark is a fantasy classic that sometimes gets boring. In this book, it works nicely with Ylva’s cast of characters and the pacing of the book. The pacing flows between light and dark, life and death. Ylva brings comfort and light to desperate times and brings excitement before it gets boring. The suspense increases towards the end.

Worldbuilding: I loved the aesthetic of Varyn with its lush forests and beautiful nature. I can’t wait to see more of the lands.

So... what did I not like? Very minor things. Some personal editing preferences. Some very minor logical things (might be that I’ve forgotten that they were addressed in earlier chapters, so shame on me). Anyway, they didn’t affect the reading experience.

All in all a good novel that raises excitement for the rest of the trilogy. Awaiting the second book, I’ll be buying it!

Recommend to: druids, witches, and others who find magic in things that grow. Those who feel most alive in nature, and enjoy a break in a lush forest grove. To those who love reading fantasy, but are tired of the stereotypical cast of characters and wish to see more representation.

Ps. I love Gwynnestri