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The Forest King’s Daughter
Contributors
By Elly Blake
Formats and Prices
- On Sale
- Feb 11, 2025
- Page Count
- 384 pages
- Publisher
- Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
- ISBN-13
- 9780316395724
Price
$19.99Price
$25.99 CADFormat
Format:
- Hardcover $19.99 $25.99 CAD
- ebook $12.99 $16.99 CAD
- Audiobook Download (Unabridged) $31.99
- Trade Paperback $12.99 $16.99 CAD
Buy from Other Retailers:
Once upon a time, among the bloodred trees of Thirstwood, a young forest princess became friends with a lonely boy from underground. He gifted her an amber ring, a worthless trinket—or so he thought—because no sooner did he slide it onto her finger than the queen of the underground and the forest king declared war.
Years later, Cassia is a crucial force in her father’s army, wielding her ring of light that can blind and disorient hundreds of enemies at a time. Then, battle-hardened Zeru abducts her, planning to steal the ring back to fix his costly childhood mistake. Exhausted, terrified, and more than a little mistrusting, Cassia is forced to travel with Zeru to a place they both believed only existed in storybooks, one where their childhood friendship slowly rekindles into something much more. But it’s only a matter of time before the war they escaped comes for them, and a hidden threat to forest and underground folk alike grows in the shadows.
From the author of the Frostblood Saga comes the first book in an enchanting, adventure-filled fantasy series about the daughters of the powerful forest king, sure to leave readers breathless and desperate for more.
Series:
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An Amazon Best Book of the Month for YA
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"Vivid worldbuilding conjures an expansive setting against which this romantasy series launch by Blake (the Frostblood Saga) unfolds, resulting in a majestic tale that weaves together questions of destiny, love, and self-discovery."Publishers Weekly
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"[The] barb-trading, childhood-friends-to-enemies-to-lovers dynamic, in addition to the world of fantastical creatures and half-forgotten mythology, is sure to please fans of Rosamund Hodge and Laini Taylor. Blake displays particular skill with the worldbuilding, peppering chapters with diegetic literary quotes that illustrate the longstanding conflict while making clear their writers’ limited perspectives.... This is romantic fantasy that readers will gladly be swept up by."BCCB
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"Blake, known best for the Frostblood Saga, crafts another enchanting medieval world. Pick up for those seeking adventure and enemies-to-lovers romance."Booklist
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"Blake has delivered a fun and fast read that sets up interesting worldbuilding to be explored in the rest of the trilogy."School Library Journal
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"A sweetly romantic magical diversion."Kirkus Reviews
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“A lush and twisting fairy tale. Brimming with enchanting prose, a smoldering romance, and a heaping helping of schemes.” —Adalyn Grace, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Belladonna
“The breathtaking world-building is only outdone by the heartwarming love story.…Simply put: beautiful.” —Tricia Levenseller, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Darkness Within Us
“I’d drop anything to escape into one of Elly Blake’s lushly written and marvelously thrilling novels.” —Morgan Rhodes, New York Times bestselling author
“Wrapped me in its roots and refused to let go. Unique folklore, whimsical creatures, and two main characters destined for each other.” —Mara Rutherford, author of A Multitude of Dreams
“Crackles with tension and ancient magic, and like all good fairy tales, pulses with a darkly beating heart.” —Nicki Pau Preto, Sunday Times bestselling author of Bonesmith -
Praise for The Frostblood Saga:
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"Perfect for fans of Victoria Aveyard...will delight those who love fantasy, adventure, and romance."School Library Journal
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"A thrilling romp through an engrossing world. A sucker punch of escalating evil, sizzling romance, and a spitfire coming into her own."Kirkus Reviews
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"Enchanting and fast-paced...lights up the page with magic, romance, and action, all of which is expertly interwoven throughout the text."Booklist
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"This strong debut for Blake succeeds in laying down intriguing framework for the books to come."Publishers Weekly
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"Romantic and thrilling."Booklist
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"Ruby's a spitfire who faces her challenges with grit."Kirkus Reviews
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"The plot is well paced and engaging...fans of the series will not be disappointed."School Library Journal
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About the Author
Elly Blake is the New York Times bestselling author of the Frostblood Saga. She lives in Southwestern Ontario with her husband and kids and invites you to visit her online @Elly_Blake or at EllyBlake.com.
Book Club Guide
- How are authenticity and being true to oneself explored as themes in The Forest King’s Daughter? What are some ways characters ignore their own needs for others’ approval?
- How does the forest act as a character in the book? Thirstwood has “blood trees” with the ability to trap intruders. Can you find more examples that show the trees are alert or aware of what’s going on?
- In the prologue, when the Dracu queen declares war, the Sylvan king says, “At last” (p. 9). What does this say about his character, and what other examples can you find that reinforce that character trait?
- In what ways do Cassia and Zeru discover they were wrong about each other? How does Zeru help Cassia begin to question her role and identity?
- Why do the other forest folk rely on the Sylvans to protect them? Which is your favorite type of forest folk and why?
- Along with the Dracu, there are different types of folk who live underground. Which type of Azpian did you want to hear more about and why?
- When Zeru gives Cassia the ring, it starts a war between the Dracu and the Sylvans. What are some other examples of actions that lead to unintended consequences?
- In Welkincaster, Cassia finds the ring has a power she didn’t know about. What does she discover about herself when she uses this new ability?
- Cassia undergoes a transformation later in the story. Though that change is difficult for her, how does she come to accept and even thrive in her new form?
- How do the secondary characters help or hinder Cassia in her goals?
- Villains usually don’t see themselves as the bad guys. How do the novel’s antagonists reveal that they feel justified in their actions?
- Cassia has a strong bond with her sisters. In what ways is she similar or different from her sisters? What could she learn from each of them? What could they learn from her?
- Some of the quotes at the beginning of chapters are advice or commentary. For example, Gaxix the Dracu philosopher claims, “Sylvans have no sense of history. They live in the present, flitting among flowers and sipping morning dew” (p. 80). Are these claims always accurate? What could be some reasons why the Sylvans and Dracu have inaccurate ideas about each other?
- Sylvans don’t lie. Or do they? Are there examples of Sylvans finding ways to bend or skirt the truth?
Peek the Audiobook
From NOVL Nation
“The Forest King’s Daughter is the perfect read for those looking to enter, and get lost, in a magical forest filled with kings and queens, demons, and fantastical powers that you have not seen yet!”
–Reece, @theunboundbook
“I absolutely LOVED this one! The romance, the worldbuilding, the tension…it really kept me on edge. I can’t wait to see where the rest of this series goes and if you’re a fan of romantasy I highly recommend!”
– Briana, Briana’s Book Nook
“I liked the worldbuilding a lot and the friends to enemies to forbidden lovers was really fun… Definitely a fun read, and I highly recommend.”
– Courtney, @romantasy_introvert
#Thirstwood
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