A River of Royal Blood

August 26, 2019
Evalina Grace Killeen is the younger princess of the Queendom of Myre, a land populated by humans, fey, bloodkin, and the subjugated khimaer, formerly Myre’s ruling class. Since her magick was declared “marrow and blood,” like that of the most powerful, ruthless human queen in Myre’s history, Eva has been the subject of fear and isolation by courtiers, citizens, and her queen mother, who has long favored the persuasive magick of the elder princess, Isadore. When Eva reaches her 17th year, the magick-wielding sisters will fight for the sitting monarch’s throne, battling to the death for the right to rule. Biracial Eva, who can seem reactive, regards her own magick as a curse and loathes the thought of fratricide, but after she is attacked repeatedly before the battle, she must unlock the secrets of magic and heritage that have haunted her family and her Queendom for years. Debut author Joy’s engrossing, North African–inspired series opener draws effectively on real-world prejudices to inform her richly created universe’s complex history of species-based oppression and imperialism. Ages 12–up. Agent: Holly Root and Taylor Haggerty, Root Literary.

Starred review from August 1, 2019
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* In the Queendom of Myre, sisters fight to the death to be named true Rival Heir and sit on the Ivory Throne. Gifted with the most fearsome magick of marrow and blood, Princess Evalina enlists a godling to help harness her rare powers to have a fighting chance against her sister Isadore's more practiced magick of light and persuasion. But even before her nameday approaches, when she will be of age to engage in combat for the throne, Eva's life is threatened by another who wants to see her dead. All the while, secrets surfacing around her are leaving few to trust. For Eva, the only way to survive is to embrace the killing magick she has so long feared, so she can use it against her own sister. Joy's debut has all the trappings of a riveting fantasy novel: enviable world building, elements of magic, and scintillating glimpses of a powerful backstory, not to mention a slow-burning romance sure to get readers swooning. Joy's fluid dialogue and command of building suspense with precise pacing are undeniable, and her descriptions border on lyrical: "I slashed at his sword arm, but he dodged with sinuous fluidity." Gripping political intrigue and cinematic action in a dynamic North African setting make this a natural pick for fans of Tomi Adeyemi's Children of Blood and Bone (2018), who eagerly anticipate the planned sequel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)