Welcome to my tour stop! Find my review below...
The Cursed Queen's Daughter
(Thirstwood #2)
By Elly Blake
Young Adult Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance
Audiobook, Hardcover, Paperback & eBook, 336 Pages
February 10, 2026 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Summary
A warrior princess falls for a shadow prince in this darkly romantic companion to The Forest King’s Daughter.
Fearless Thea has never known life outside of war. As the favorite daughter of the Sylvan King, she’s a relentless fighter who longs to lead his army as First Huntsman, ignoring the pretty clothes and fanciful notions others enjoy. But when a mysterious dress full of dark magic appears on her hearth one evening, Thea doesn’t know how to fight an enemy she can’t see or touch. Still, her curiosity builds as a new gown appears each night—until she gives in to temptation and is whisked to a forgotten land of shadows.
The prince of the shadow realm is a handsome host, and while Thea does all she can to resist his charms, it’s clear he knows something about the long-ago disappearance of Thea’s mother. All he asks in return is for Thea to dance with him, their dangerous attraction growing each time she returns for more information. Meanwhile, shadows are seeping into the living realm, and Thea may have to embrace her own darkness if she has any chance of saving her beloved sisters and home from an otherworldly threat.
From the author of the Frostblood Saga comes the second book in a spellbinding series about the daughters of the powerful forest king, with simmering romance and plot twists that will leave readers desperate to enter the Thirstwood themselves.
Content Warning: Blood, war, death, violence
(Affiliate links included.)
My Review
THE CURSED QUEEN'S DAUGHTER is a rich, lush and dark young adult fantasy in a world full of different peoples and magic. The story is character driven with its leading heroine. She is passionate and a fierce warrior. The plot is intriguing with mystery and action, romance being the central focus. Young adult romantasy fans should enjoy this one!
The start of this story was magnificently done! I loved the characters and the fantasy world. There was a slight refresher from the first book (which you don't need to read to read this one) and lots of different dynamics and relationships. The love interest, Damon, is seductive, mysterious, cunning, and charming. Thea matches him in her fierce strength, stubbornness, and beauty. The story moves at a good pace with time for development and for different aspects of the story to build. The climatic ending was well done and fit the story with a sweet twist.
I did want more from the story. There were several parts that weren't consistent, almost like the characters forgot they had a resource or had figured something out. The romance was a bit too central and too descriptive for my tastes, especially when I was enjoying the story so much and then felt the romance completely took over. Part of that was Damon all of sudden being a completely different character, losing his intelligence and cunning as well as the back and forth pull he had with Thea up to that point. Thankfully the ending was somewhat redemptive.
In the end, was it what I wished for? This was an engrossing and entertaining read. I loved the setting, the characters were likable, with a story full of family and romance.
Content: Violence, some gory, lots of innuendo and suggestive content, closed-door scene, torture.
Source: I received a complimentary copy through Toppling Stacks Tours, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Other Books in the Series
About the Author
Her work is represented by Suzie Townsend of New Leaf Literary & Media.
Tour Schedule
Follow the tour here.
No comments
Post a Comment
I love comments! I try to read and reply to them all. Feel free to agree or disagree and generally share your thoughts with me.