Blood of the Lost Kingdom

I can once again thank/blame The Write Reads, for supporting my Daughter of Erabel obsession and Kristin Ward fandom. I am, as always, appreciative of The Write Reads team for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour!

Goodreads Blurb:

Mysterious. Hidden. Sacred. Erabel is the beating heart of Dorcha Wood. And its heir has come home.

Fleeing the man who betrayed her, Fiadh returns to her beloved forest, into its heart, to discover her people. And herself. With the aid of Veren, an Aos Sí warrior, she explores her birthright, a world safeguarded from the corruption of mankind. There, she learns the history of a mighty race and the vastness of the power coursing through her blood. 

But beyond Erabel’s boundaries, men are flocking, rallying to an evil lord who covets the strength flowing in Fiadh’s veins. They have their eyes fixed on the lost kingdom of the Aos Sí, and it’s only a matter of time before they breach those borders and come for Fiadh and all who protect her. 

All around her, the world is closing in, as some plot in shadows, and others in the stark light of day.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Blood of the Lost Kingdom Review:

I tried my best to avoid first book spoilers but it’s super hard, so you should go read the first one (reviewed here) just in case and then come on back.

Did you finish?! Excellent, welcome back!

I am so happy to be back in Dorcha Wood. This book leapt over the dreaded second-book slump and instead delivered a perfectly paced story that draws us deeper into Ward’s fantasy world. Fiadh and Gideon forge paths towards the mission they feel called to – protecting those they hold dear and the world they live in. Now, I will be the first to admit that I was fully team “I want to throttle the heck out of Gideon” when starting this book but now…I’m back down to wanting to maybe just gently bonk him on the nose.

Gideon’s struggle with a path to revenge that’s twisting and turning into a (dare I say it?) potential redemption arc is a refreshing version of a hero’s journey that has me guessing and anticipating what is to come in book three.

Fiadh is struggling in this one, and it is such a good struggle. Faced with new friends and allies, a raven bff that steals the show, and a familial history she never knew about, we get to feel overwhelmed along with her. She is one of my favorite MCs as she doesn’t quite have the same ego and gravitas as many unexpectedly chosen ones. She discovers a well of untapped power lurking inside of her and steps, uncertainly, up to protect her found family from the terrors of those seeking to destroy the magic they fear

If you were waffling about picking this up as a new fantasy series, this is your sign to dive right in.

Thank you to The Write Reads, the publisher, and Kristin Ward for providing me with a free digital copy in exchange for my honest review!