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The Library of Amorlin: Deluxe Limited Edition (The Age of Beasts)
Kalyn Josephson
4.4
The Reluctant Queen: From the Author of The Spellshop Comes a Battle of Power, Nature, and a Mother's Struggle to Save Her Realm. Prepare to be Spellbound (Queens of Renthia, 2)
by Sarah Beth Durst
Published May 6, 2025
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About this book
In a realm where malevolent elemental spirits threaten to extinguish humanity, Queen Daleina struggles to maintain a brittle peace. As the spirits grow increasingly emboldened, Daleina realizes her own mortality: if she perishes without a successor, the elemental forces will slaughter her people. She tasks her champion, Ven, with finding an heir capable of binding the spirits, a burden no sane person would willingly accept.
He discovers Naelin, a woman living in seclusion, dedicated solely to protecting her husband and two children. Naelin possesses the rare, dangerous ability to command the spirits, but she hides her gifts to ensure her family’s safety. When Ven arrives to recruit her, he sparks a volatile clash between Naelin’s fierce maternal instincts and the desperate needs of a crumbling kingdom.
As rumors of a dark threat from the north intensify, Naelin realizes that her isolation is no longer a shield. To ensure her children’s survival in a world governed by blood and magic, she must navigate a treacherous political landscape and embrace a power she has spent her life denying. This is a story of duty, the cost of sacrifice, and the harrowing choice between the family one loves and the world one must save.
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What readers are saying
Crossroad ReviewsExpect the unexpected!
"I didn't know what to except when I went into this one. You guys know that for the most part I don't read book synopsis. I just dive right into the story. Especially when its books to series that I die hard loved. This one was one of those. I started reading not knowing what the story was really about and man was it a doozy!! This one pick up 6 months after the events of book one and let me tell you man you are in for the time of your life! This book made me feel a range of emotions from crying, to laughing, to just plain not being able to form words out of my mouth. I had nothing about what twist happened. I didn't see it coming and well I DIDNT SEE IT COMING!!! It was something that I wouldn't have guessed if you would have given me the option! This book was just so mind blowing! We learn so much more about the world of Renthia in this story as well as make new friends. Ok so I just read the synopsis of the book so I know what I can and cannot tell you. And as you guessed that synopsis really GIVES A LOT AWAY!! If you haven't read DONT just don't its better to be surprised!! Ok so the plot for this one centers around our beloved Queen Daleina finding out that she is dying from I have to say a really interesting disease. (Cant delve into that its a spoiler!) But anyway on goes the search to find a new heir! And of course our leading Champion Ven finds one who doesn't want to be found. I have to say that I really loved that this new person was not a child. She was a grown woman. I asked the author and both Naelin and Ven are around their mid 30's or so. I really loved their romance in this one and hope that it expands in book three. We find out other things in this story as well. The ending was out of this world and that I pretty much have called since the beginning. It centers around Byan I won't say more than that. But I CALLED IT!! I call dibs on that one!! The world building is lush with even more spirits and descriptions. I hope that in book three we journey to new lands. This was a wonderful continuing story about a world that I slightly wish I lived in. As long as I well didn't get torn apart by spirits cause that would be no fun. I can't wait for the next book to come out and I can't wait for everyone to read this one. Book in a Pinch Magic, Romance, Twists, and Betrayal! Go Into This One Knowing Expect the unexpected! ["
January 23, 2018 Verified Purchase
Kristin’s Book BlabAn interesting world and story line with awesome characters!
"This one took me a little longer than the first but I really enjoyed it! I adore Naelin. She is absolutely amazing. It’s nice to see an actual mother as a character and the love for her kids is so strong. Her kids are amazing and hilarious and I loved reading from all of their povs. I loved the romance between her and Ven but I wish it was just a LITTLE BIT MORE! I wanted more tension between them and more romance which is weird I never do. The fact that she absolutely didn’t want to be an heir and in the end did what she had to was so relatable. Daelina’s situation was very different this time around and she’s changed so much. I honestly didn’t feel like she was the same person but then again she wasn’t really. She was a Queen. It was a little harder to connect to her this time around and I think that’s what drew me from the story just a little bit. Overall I love this series and I think the next one is in Bayns pov for some chapters and I’m readddyyyy for that!! But not ready for the series to end, I love this world! ["
May 25, 2019 Verified Purchase
Andrew P. LucasAmazing author
"Great book! Can’t wait to read the Queen of Sorrow! ["
February 2, 2026 Verified Purchase
aannbrrA wonderful sequel to The Queen of Blood
"The Reluctant Queen continues the story of Daleina, now queen of Aratay. Although she is only about 20, she is discovered to have the False Death; with only 3 months to live, a successor is mandatory. Unfortunately, all of the students at the magic academies are too young/immature/untrained to be suitable candidates. With Champions scouring the towns and villages for possible Heirs, Ven discovers Naelin, a mother of two young children, who can command the nature spirits. Although she is VERY reluctant, she and her children go to the capital city to train. Durst is a masterful storyteller and portrays Naelin's indecision realistically, as well as Deleina's anguish over her approaching death and difficult decisions over how to keep her country safe. It's refreshing to have a mature heroine in a fantasy novel instead of the typical ingenue and Durst has written a well-rounded character. In this book, we also meet three queens of the world of Renthia, so I finally see where the series name comes in. By the end of the Epilogue, though, I was already set to tear into book 3. Sarah, you don't write fast enough! I highly recommend this series, as well as every other book written by Sarah Beth Durst! ["
July 10, 2017 Verified Purchase
