The queen of sorrow

*Starred Review* The Queens of Renthia series (which began with The Queen of Blood, 2016) concludes with an earth-shattering conflict between three determined queens, two countries, and a multitude of bloodthirsty spirits. Little more than a year into her rule, Queen Daleina of Aratay has survived an assassination attempt and a devastating invasion and acquired a new coruler, Queen Naelin. Although very powerful, Naelin's control of the spirits is incomplete. To reassure people about her ability to rule, Naelin visits the outer towns accompanied by her children and champion, her lover Ven. Suddenly her children are kidnapped, and she loses control, sending Aratay's spirits into unrestrained battle with the Northern mountain spirits. She is convinced the treacherous Queen Merecot is to blame and wants revenge. Naelin may be right, but neither she nor Daleina is aware of Merecot's true purpose, one that could save or destroy all Renthia. Questions from previous books will be answered, and the introduction of three neighboring Renthian queens offers an intriguing story element. Fans will be delighted to learn Durst is planning to write a stand-alone title that further explores her world of spirits and queens. Copyright 2018 Booklist Reviews.

In this wrap-up to the trilogy begun with the Alex Award-winning The Reluctant Queenand continued with The Queen of Sorrow, Queen Daleina hopes for some peace in Renthia with Queen Naelin ruling by her side. But then Naelin's children are kidnapped by spirits. With a 50,000-copy first printing. Copyright 2017 Library Journal.

The forest of Aratay has been left damaged by the battles waged in The Queen of Blood and The Reluctant Queen. But with two queens now ruling Aratay—the healed-from-death Daleina, and the woodswoman mother-turned-queen Naelin—the healing can begin. Yet the question of succession still plagues the realm. Semo's Queen Merecot continues in her desire to claim Aratay, and the malevolent spirits of nature that seek to destroy humanity are becoming more threatening. When Merecot kidnaps Naelin's children, Naelin is ready to use her powers to get them back, no matter the cost. However, ruling Aratay is only one step in Merecot's full plan to end the power of the spirits, and she is not afraid of taking action that could result in complete destruction for all Renthia. Loyalty to land, lovers, and family will be up for grabs in this action-packed and emotional epic. VERDICT This engrossing conclusion to the "Queens of Renthia" trilogy has been worth the wait, providing a challenging but satisfying ending. [See Prepub Alert, 11/11/17.]—Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton Copyright 2018 Library Journal.

The thrilling and sometimes melancholy finale of Durst's Queens of Renthia trilogy continues to expand the world of Renthia, finally bringing the story into Semo, the neighboring country that had attacked the land of Aratay in the previous book. Naelin—one of Aratay's two queens, capable of commanding the wild nature spirits of the land—learns that her children have been kidnapped by Queen Merecot of Semo and is forced to bargain to retrieve them. Naturally, everyone's plans go awry (including those of Naelin's fellow queen, Daleina), and both countries find themselves fighting for survival. As Durst's scope expands, she still has time for character growth (including a nice focus on Daleina's younger sister, Arin, whose exploration of her bisexuality ends up tying directly into her own quest to help save the nations), and for some sharp twists. Younger fans of Durst's YA works might be surprised by just how adult the story gets at times—Naelin and Daleina both enjoy a lot of sex, and death is plentiful and sometimes horrific. The well-crafted denouement wraps up the entire adventure perfectly. Agent: Andrea Somberg, Andrea Somberg Literary. (May) Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly.

Queen Daleina's dreams of bringing peace and prosperity to her forest home seemed doomed when neighboring forces invaded Aratay. Now, ruling alongside Queen Naelin, those dreams seem closer ... even in a land plagued by malevolent nature spirits who thirst for the end of human life. When Naelin's children are kidnapped by spirits, Naelin blames Queen Merecot of Semo for the kidnapping. But taking the children is merely one step in a plot to change the future of all Renthia, either by ending the threat ofspirits once and for all-- or plunging the world into chaos. -- adapted from jacket.

Queen Dalenia believes she can bring about peace with the powerful Queen Naelin by her side, but Naelin's children are captured by spirits and things start to fall apart.

The hard-won peace and prosperity Queen Daleina believed she had brought to her forest home is shattered when spirits kidnap the children of Queen Naelin.

Queen Daleina finds shattered the peace and prosperity she has fought hard to bring to her forest home when Naelin’s children are kidnapped by spirits, in a conclusion to the series following The Reluctant Queen. 50,000 first printing.

The battle between vicious spirits and strong-willed queens that started in the award-winning The Queen of Blood and continued in the powerful The Reluctant Queen comes to a stunning conclusion in The Queen of Sorrow, 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.And then Naelin’s children are kidnapped by spirits.Nothing is more important to her than her family, and Naelin would rather watch the world burn than see her children harmed. Blaming the defeated Queen Merecot of Semo for the kidnapping, Naelin is ready to start a war—and has the power to do it.But Merecot 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 plunging the world into chaos.

The battle between vicious spirits and strong-willed queens that started in the award-winning The Queen of Blood and continued in the powerful The Reluctant Queen comes to a stunning conclusion in The Queen of Sorrow, 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.And then Naelin's children are kidnapped by spirits.Nothing is more important to her than her family, and Naelin would rather watch the world burn than see her children harmed. Blaming the defeated Queen Merecot of Semo for the kidnapping, Naelin is ready to start a war'and has the power to do it.But Merecot 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 plunging the world into chaos.