From the Publisher
Excellent…Durst throws a lot of balls in the air but manages to juggle them deftly now that her world’s well established and she can focus on the large cast.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) on The Reluctant Queen
“Durst is a very gifted storyteller with a knack for comforting prose, both qualities which make The Reluctant Queen an extremely engaging novel and one that is difficult to put down.” — SFFWorld
“Durst’s Renthia continues to fascinate with its very incongruity, juxtaposing idyllic villages and cities built among the trees and the personal journey of the female protagonists with the relentless brutality of the spirits and the ruthless machinations of humans. The result is both incredibly grim and charmingly heartwarming.”
— Kirkus Reviews on The Reluctant Queen
“Wow, girl! What a great story! A truly wonderful fantasy novel which doubles as an allegory for our own earthly struggle between Man and Nature. Filled with fresh ideas and excitement, told with verve and heart. This book deserves a wide readership, and I think it will find one.” — Terry Brooks, New York Times bestselling author, on The Queen of Blood
“Thrilling—heartrending—enchanting—absolutely un-put-down-able!” — Tamora Pierce, New York Times bestselling author, on The Queen of Blood
“Ms. Durst has penned a series that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. The characters are diverse, both in age and life experience, making this a perfect pick for pretty much anyone who enjoys a well-crafted fantasy with strong heroines and a very unique world.” — All About Romance
“The Queen of Blood made it onto my list of books that I felt were deserving of more attention, and I maintain that more than ever, especially with how good The Reluctant Queen turned out....The Queens of Renthia is shaping up to be an excellent series.” — Bibliosanctum
“A thrilling beginning to a sweeping series about searching for sovereignty and truth in order to save one’s land.” — Library Journal (starred review)
“The Queen of Blood is full of rich tension from the opening scene to the nail-biting finale.” — Jeff Wheeler, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Kingfountain and Muirwood series
Praise for The Queen of Blood: “Mythopoeic Award-winner Durst launches her Queens of Renthia series with a stellar and imaginative tale.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Girls in Capes
The Reluctant Queen was a fantastic next installment for this trilogy.
SFFWorld
Durst is a very gifted storyteller with a knack for comforting prose, both qualities which make The Reluctant Queen an extremely engaging novel and one that is difficult to put down.
All About Romance
Ms. Durst has penned a series that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. The characters are diverse, both in age and life experience, making this a perfect pick for pretty much anyone who enjoys a well-crafted fantasy with strong heroines and a very unique world.
Culturess
The Reluctant Queen makes for a worthy follow-up to The Queen of Blood.
B&N Sci-fi & Fantasy Blog
It is a pleasure to visit Renthia again. Durst paints a gorgeous, leaf-strewn horror house setting that makes it easy to immerse yourself in her world, and stay there.
Jeff Wheeler
The Queen of Blood is full of rich tension from the opening scene to the nail-biting finale.
Bibliosanctum
The Queen of Blood made it onto my list of books that I felt were deserving of more attention, and I maintain that more than ever, especially with how good The Reluctant Queen turned out....The Queens of Renthia is shaping up to be an excellent series.
Tamora Pierce
Thrilling—heartrending—enchanting—absolutely un-put-down-able!
Terry Brooks
What a great story! A truly wonderful fantasy novel which doubles as an allegory for our own earthly struggle between Man and Nature. Filled with fresh ideas and excitement, told with verve and heart. This book deserves a wide readership, and I think it will find one.
Kirkus Reviews
2017-05-02
The second in a fantasy series set in a heavily forested continent whose vitality depends on bloodthirsty nature spirits controlled by magically gifted women.Six months after the events of The Queen of Blood (2016), Queen Daleina of Aratay's troubles are far from over. Daleina still feels incredible survivor's guilt about the coronation day massacre…and now she herself isn't expected to survive very long. Daleina's newly discovered fatal illness could claim her in mere months; worse, the blackouts it induces cause her to lose control of the spirits, who are then set free to slaughter. Daleina's former lover, the healer Hamon, searches desperately for a cure, even turning to his estranged mother, a brilliant but sociopathic herbalist. To ensure Aratay's security, Daleina must have an heir; but the strongest potential candidates were killed in the massacre, and most of the new candidates aren't surviving their training. Meanwhile, a secret traitor threatens the palace, and Daleina's former schoolmate, the insanely ambitious Queen Merecot of Semo, is preparing to invade. Daleina rests all her hope on one extremely powerful candidate: Naelin, a canny woodswoman and mother of two who can summon and control even the strongest spirits; the only problem is that she has absolutely no desire to be queen. Durst's Renthia continues to fascinate with its very incongruity, juxtaposing idyllic villages and cities built among the trees and the personal journey of the female protagonists with the relentless brutality of the spirits and the ruthless machinations of humans. The result is both incredibly grim and charmingly heartwarming. However, the two books in the series are similar enough thematically and, in some spots, predictable enough that Durst will have to take care to avoid repetition in subsequent installments. Still worth following, at least for now.
