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Everything has a spirit — the trees, the earth, the water, the air — all of them malevolent and set on ridding the land of all humans. One woman stands between these spirits and the people: the queen. She alone has the power to control the spirits and prevent them from destroying every man, woman, and child. But the queens are still human, and, no matter how strong, the threat of danger always lingers.
When Daleina’s village is attacked by malevolent spirits and everyone dies — except her family, who only survives thanks to her meager magic — Daleina dreams of becoming an heir. Once she joins the academy, though, she realizes her magic isn’t as strong as the other candidates’. She has no hope of ever becoming the next queen, but if she can become strong enough to protect the forest and outer villages, then all the lost years of her childhood spent training will be worth it.
Ven, a banished warrior, has spent years chasing the spirits’ violent attacks, hoping to aid the outer villages and save as many lives as possible. All the while, he knows something must be wrong with the queen. Her control must be slipping, and there is nothing he can do except be there to fight when the spirits attack and prepare an heir candidate for when the queen finally falls.
The Queen of Blood is a brutal high fantasy set in a vivid forest world. The magic system, which centers on spirits and the ability to control and manipulate them, is unique. The fact that the spirits and magic are based in the elements is not, yet somehow Sarah Beth Durst turns these fantasy cliches into something that feels new and original.
Also, Daleina is a great protagonist; she’s not perfect, by any means. She isn’t the best at magic — in fact, her skills are barely passable — but her true strength shows in her perseverance and determination, which lends realism and credibility to the story and makes her a character easy to root for.
Rated: Moderate, for frequent bloody, sometimes graphic, violence. While romance is not the main focus of the story, there is still quite a bit of sexual content, including undressing, passionate embracing, groping, and kissing. It alludes several times to characters spending the night together, but these moments are glossed over and not described.
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