About the Book:

Title: The Queen’s Rising

Author: Rebecca Ross

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: February 6, 2018

Pages: 464

Genre: YA Fantasy

Synopsis:

When her seventeenth summer solstice arrives, Brienna desires only two things: to master her passion and to be chosen by a patron.

Growing up in the southern Kingdom of Valenia at the renowned Magnalia House should have prepared her for such a life. While some are born with an innate talent for one of the five passions—art, music, dramatics, wit, and knowledge—Brienna struggled to find hers until she belatedly chose to study knowledge. However, despite all her preparations, Brienna’s greatest fear comes true—the solstice does not go according to plan and she is left without a patron.

Months later, her life takes an unexpected turn when a disgraced lord offers her patronage. Suspicious of his intent, and with no other choices, she accepts. But there is much more to his story, and Brienna soon discovers that he has sought her out for his own vengeful gain. For there is a dangerous plot being planned to overthrow the king of Maevana—the archrival kingdom of Valenia—and restore the rightful queen, and her magic, to the northern throne. And others are involved—some closer to Brienna than she realizes.

With war brewing between the two lands, Brienna must choose whose side she will remain loyal to—passion or blood. Because a queen is destined to rise and lead the battle to reclaim the crown. The ultimate decision Brienna must determine is: Who will be that queen?

Review:

Oh my gosh! This book! I loved this story so much. Rebecca’s writing is so gorgeous, I felt like I was watching a movie unfold in my mind. Her writing is just so vivid and lush. It was hard to put this one down, as it was that good.

Brienna is such an amazing main character. She grows up in the kingdom of Valenia, but knows that her father is from the neighboring kingdom of Maevana. Her grandfather has kept the identity of her father a secret from her.  I love how we get to see her grow, from the time she started at Magnolia House at 10 years old, to her present 17 years of age. I was quite fascinated with Magnolia House, sort of an elite boarding school.  Brienna is accepted at the school only after her grandfather has a private discussion with the headmaster. Usually the people who are accepted excel in one of the five passions-art, music, dramatics, wit, and knowledge. Brienna struggles her first few years at the school to find a passion that fits. She belatedly chooses knowledge, taught by Master Cartier, as her study. There is an amazing sisterhood between the girls at Magnolia. Brienna is fiercely loyal and she cares about her friends and thinks about them before herself. There is a bit of romance in the story as well, but I don’t want to say more, as I don’t want to spoil anything. Unfortunately after all of Brienna’s years of preparations at Magnolia House, she is not chosen by a patron at the solstice which was her worst fear.

Months later a disgraced lord offers her patronage. She decides to accept his patronage and is whisked away. Things soon take an unexpected turn. Brienna must decide where her loyalties lie as a war may be on the horizon between the two neighboring lands of Valenia and Maevana. The ending was perfect, and left me wondering what would happen to my favorite characters and what their reactions would be to all of the revelations.

The Queen’s Rising is an amazing story about friendship, family, amazing world building, a beautiful setting, magic, political intrigue, twists and turns, and a slow burn romance. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend that you pick it up ASAP. It’s an amazing debut and I feel that it’s highly underrated. Please give it the love that it deserves.

 

 

About the Author:

Rebecca Ross grew up in Georgia, where she continues to reside with her husband, lively dog and endless piles of books. She received her bachelor’s degree in English from UGA. In the past she has worked at a Colorado dude ranch, as a school librarian, and as a live-time captionist for a college.

Rebecca writes fantasy for young adult readers. Her debut novel, THE QUEEN’S RISING, will be out February 6, 2018 from HarperTeen.

THE QUEEN’S RISING is set to be translated into Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Hungarian, Turkish, Bulgarian, Dutch, German, Hebrew and will be available in the UK.