Sixteen-year-old Eva is a princess, born with the magick of marrow and blood--a dark and terrible magick that hasn't been seen for generations in the vibrant but fractured country of Myre. Its last known practitioner was Queen Raina, who toppled the native khimaer royalty and massacred thousands, including her own sister, eight generations ago, thus beginning the Rival Heir tradition. Living in Raina's long and dark shadow, Eva must now face her older sister, Isa, in a battle to the death if she hopes to ascend to the Ivory Throne--because in the Queendom of Myre only the strongest, most ruthless rulers survive.
When Eva is attacked by an assassin just weeks before the battle with her sister, she discovers there is more to the attempt on her life than meets the eye--and it isn't just her sister who wants to see her dead. As tensions escalate, Eva is forced to turn to a fey instructor of mythic proportions and a mysterious and handsome khimaer prince for help in growing her magick into something to fear. Because despite the love she still has for her sister, Eva will have to choose: Isa's death or her own. A River of Royal Blood is an enthralling debut set in a lush North African inspired fantasy world that subtly but powerfully challenges our notions of power, history, and identity. I see a lot of comps to Children of Blood and Bone to this one, which… I’m not sure why, because this is a whole different thing, and I loved every second of it! I picked up A River of Royal Blood (hereafter referred to as “River” for simplicity) on Libby because I was needing more fantasy in my life (gotta be reading at least one at all times!) and was completely blown out of the water. First off—what I love about fantasy books is the invention of new magic systems and realms. Amanda Joy created not only an intriguing political environment but also creative uses of magick to complement it! Eva’s story is not only about fighting to become Queen, but also learning more about her magick and who she is willing to be as a person. There was zero info-dumping or unnecessary exposition, and readers’ exploration of the world perfectly matches Eva’s journey within it. The fast-paced plot unfolds alongside Eva’s slower reckoning with her magick, and the pacing is also perfect. I enjoyed how readable the novel was—I finished in around a day, which was a much-needed break for me from some heavier novels. Three divisions separate the moments of character development, which provided a tangible connection to Eva’s overall journey. One of Joy’s main strengths is linking scenes together. I never wanted to put the book down, even when I was telling myself “just one more chapter.” One turned into two turned into breathless page-turning as all of the action bled between chapters and I couldn’t stop reading. I promise you there’s no reason for you not to pick up this book. Our main character, Eva, is a typical strong female character: she’s a Princess and she can fight, but she has so much else going for her. She’s survived cold and detached family members, a legacy that means she’ll have to kill her only sister or die herself, and societal shame for not knowing how to use her blood and marrow magick. She’s got so much to deal with, but Eva always gets up to fight another day. That’s what I love most about her, and what will make her a role model to generations of young women. Aaaand… in addition to all of the wonderfulness listed above, we get an adorable romance too!! I won’t say much, but Eva & that “handsome khimaer prince” mentioned above make a pretty great pair. Overall: 5/5 stars. How could it be anything but that. Read this book!!
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The BaronessHey, I'm Shreya! I love to read, write, travel, and drink tea. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of bookshop.org and I will earn a small commission if you click the above link and make a purchase.
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