The queen of blood by Sarah Beth Durst

Mass Market Paperback, 388 pages
Published April 25th 2017 by Harper Voyager (first published September 20th 2016)
Series: The Queens of Renthia #1
Fantasy 
own

This felt (to me) light and also a really scary world. There are spirits everywhere, queens hold them in check, cos else the spirits go on killing sprees. Even when the queens hold then in check, this does make this one of the scarier worlds I have encountered. The spirits wants to kill kill and kill all humans.

I have read a book in this world before, but that was a stand alone set in this world. Even scarier spirits there.

Here we have Daleina who wants to become an heir to protect her people. I do think she would be right for it, but at the same time, I feel she needs more because these spirits will be the death of her. I know what lurk beneath.

The book is about her training, about learning about spirits and what it means to be queen. She does have the right ideas.

But this is a trilogy and it is about to get ugly. Still it did end without a cliffhanger, so that was good. And I do want more because this world needs strength.

Everything has a spirit: the willow tree with leaves that kiss the pond, the stream that feeds the river, the wind that exhales fresh snow . . .

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

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