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The Queens of RenthiaSeries

Venture into a realm where every element of nature harbors a spirit, and these spirits are relentlessly bloodthirsty, seeking the utter annihilation of humankind. Follow compelling characters as they fight for survival against nature's most brutal forces. This epic saga delivers thrilling action, potent magic, and a desperate struggle for the future of humanity.

The Queen of Sorrow
The Deepest Blue
The Queen of Blood
The Deepest Blue
The Reluctant Queen
The reluctant queen

Recommended Reading Order

  1. 1

    The Queen of Blood

    • 416 pages
    • 15 hours of reading
    3.9(695)Add rating

    Everything has a spirit: the willow tree with leaves that kiss the pond, the stream that feeds the river, the wind that exhales fresh snow… But the spirits that reside within this land want to rid it of all humans. One woman stands between these malevolent spirits and the end of humankind: the queen. She alone has the magical power to prevent the spirits from destroying every man, woman, and child. But queens are still only human, and no matter how strong or good they are, the threat of danger always looms. Because the queen’s position is so precarious, young women are specially chosen to train as her heirs. Daleina, a seemingly quiet academy student, simply wants to right the wrongs that have befallen the land. Meanwhile, the disgraced champion Ven has spent his exile secretly fighting against the growing number of spirit attacks. When Daleina and Ven join forces, they embark on a treacherous quest to find the source of the spirits’ restlessness—a journey that will force them to stand against both enemies and friends to save their land…before it’s bathed in blood.

    The Queen of Blood
  2. 2

    The reluctant queen

    • 360 pages
    • 13 hours of reading
    4.0(4203)Add rating

    Filled with political intrigue, violent magic, and malevolent spirits, this mesmerizing sequel in Sarah Beth Durst’s epic fantasy trilogy explores a world where everything has a spirit—each one a potential threat. Daleina, the new queen, has used her strength to survive and protect her people, but she harbors a terrible secret: she is dying. If she passes before a new heir is ready, the spirits will run rampant, endangering her realm. Naelin, a devoted mother living in a remote village, wants nothing to do with the crown. Her life revolves around her children and husband, and she denies her own magical abilities to keep them safe. However, when Ven, the Queen’s champion, visits her village, her husband boasts of her spirit-controlling skills, putting her family at risk. Ven’s mission is to find a successor to protect Aratay, and he believes Naelin could be the answer. As the Queen’s power diminishes and spirits grow bolder, Naelin faces a harrowing choice: to protect her children, she may have to embrace her magic and confront the dangers that lie ahead. The stakes rise as threats emerge from within and beyond Aratay, deepening the dark wonder established in the first installment.

    The reluctant queen
  3. 2

    The Reluctant Queen

    • 416 pages
    • 15 hours of reading
    4.2(141)Add rating

    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)

    The Reluctant Queen
  4. 3

    The Queen of Sorrow

    • 464 pages
    • 17 hours of reading
    3.8(2737)Add rating

    The battle between vicious spirits and strong-willed queens that started in the award-winning The Queen of Blood and continued in the stunning The Reluctant Queen comes to a gripping conclusion in the final volume of Sarah Beth Durst’s Queens of Renthia trilogy . . . Queen Daleina has yearned to bring peace and prosperity to her beloved forest home—a hope that seemed doomed when neighboring forces invaded Aratay. Now, with the powerful Queen Naelin ruling by her side, Daleina believes that her dream of ushering in a new era can be realized, even in a land plagued by malevolent nature spirits who thirst for the end of human life. But then Naelin’s children are kidnapped by spirits. Naelin would rather watch the world burn than see her children harmed—and she is ready to start a war with the north to secure their return. But defeated Queen Merecot of Semo has grander plans than a bloody battle with her southern neighbors. Taking the children is merely one step in a plot to change the future of all Renthia, either by ending the threat of spirits once and for all . . . or by plunging the world into chaos.

    The Queen of Sorrow

  • The Deepest Blue

    • 368 pages
    • 13 hours of reading
    4.0(268)Add rating

    The natural magic of the classic The Island of the Blue Dolphins meets the danger and courage of The Hunger Games in this dazzling, intricate stand-alone fantasy novel set in award-winning author Sarah Beth Durst's beloved world of Renthia. Life is precious and precarious on the islands of Belene.

    The Deepest Blue

  • The Deepest Blue

    • 368 pages
    • 13 hours of reading
    4.1(24)Add rating

    The natural magic of the classic Island of the Blue Dolphins meets the danger and courage of The Hunger Games in this dazzling, intricate stand-alone fantasy novel set in award-winning author Sarah Beth Durst's beloved world of Renthia Life is precious and precarious on the islands of Belene. Besieged by a capricious ocean full of malicious spirits, the people of the islands seek joy where they can. Mayara, one of the fearless oyster divers of Belene, has found happiness in love. But on the day of her wedding to the artist Kelo, a spirit-driven storm hits the island with deadly force. To save her loved ones, Mayara reveals a dangerous secret: she has the power to control the spirits. When the storm ends, she is taken into custody by the queen's soldiers and imprisoned with other women like her. They vary in age and social status, but to many, they are heroes who will aid the country or witches who will sacrifice themselves trying. No matter who they are, the women are sent to the same terrifying place--an island filled with bloodthirsty nature spirits. There, they are left without food, water, shelter, or any tools, except their own instincts and magic. Those who survive the Island of Testing will be declared heirs to the queen. But no matter if Mayara wins or loses, she knows the life she had dreamed of is now gone forever. --Booklist (starred review)

    The Deepest Blue