The Reluctant Queen: Book Two of the Queens of Renthia (Queens of Renthia, #2) (Queens of Renthia 2)

by Sarah Durst

Filled with political intrigue, violent magic, and malevolent spirits, this is the mesmerizing second book in Sarah Beth Durst’s Queens of Renthia adult fantasy trilogy.

In The Queen of Blood, Daleina used her strength and skill to survive the malevolent nature spirits of Renthia and claim the crown. But now she is hiding a terrible secret: she is dying. If she leaves the world before a new heir is ready, the spirits that inhabit her realm will once again run wild, destroying her cities and slaughtering her people.

Naelin has the power necessary to become an heir, but she couldn’t be further removed from the Queen. Her world is her two children, her husband, and her remote village tucked deep in the forest. But when Ven, the Queen’s champion, passes through her village, Naelin’s ambitious husband tells him of his wife’s ability to control spirits—magic that Naelin fervently denies. She knows embracing her power will bring death and separation from those she loves.

But Ven must find the best possible candidate to protect the people of Aratay. As the Queen’s power begins to wane and the spirits become emboldened, the only way Naelin can keep her son and daughter safe is to risk everything.

“Excellent.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

• ISBN13: 9780062474117
• Publish Date: 8 February 2018 (first published 4 July 2017)
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 6 July 2023
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Voyager
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 416
• Language: English
• URL: http://harpercollins.co.uk

Reviews

[HekArtemis]

Love it, just like I love the first book. It's odd how unique it is to read a main character who is an older woman, married, with children - children who don't die tragically in the first chapter at that - and whose primary concern throughout the book is being a good mum. It was really nice. But damn did I hate Renet with a passion, hate hate hate. Hate. Seriously. There were a couple characters in this one who really annoyed me, but they weren't badly written, sadly they were utterly realistic which is why they are so horribly annoying or anger inducing. Stupid idiots.

I love Bayn though. Bayn forever.