Thea is the logical one, the protective one, the last one to put up with the lure of magic. But things are changing in Thirstwood. Odd trees are being reported, and people are disappearing. Then dresses start to mysteriously appear in Thea’s room. They stink of magic, but Thea is unsure of who to ask for help. Those she would normally turn to are obviously hiding something from her. So she takes things into her own hands, trying on the dress and entering a world of darkness and danger. But there’s also beauty in this strange place. Thea must be careful not to fall under the spell of the beautiful stranger who brought her to this dark world if she wants to learn the truth and protect her family from an ancient threat. Join Thea in a world of magic and danger in Elly Blake’s newest book, The Cursed Queen’s Daughter.
[Note: While I am reviewing this novel independently and honestly, it should be noted that it has been provided to me by Little, Brown for the purpose of this review. Warning: My review of The Cursed Queen’s Daughter contains some spoilers!]
An uneasy peace is threatened in The Cursed Queen’s Daughter
This is not our first trip to Thirstwood. Last year, we accompanied Cassia, daughter of the Forest King, as she went on a quest with one of her sworn enemies, a Dracu named Zeru, that finally ended the war between their people. Now her older sister, Thea, is going to have an adventure of her own.
Thea is one of the best huntsmen that her people have. Every night, she patrols the woods, protecting the inhabitants from harm. Things have been quiet since the peace treaty with the Dracu, but Thea is still on edge. Then things start happening. People begin reporting strange silver trees that are there, yet aren’t. And a young pixie seer-in-training keeps having visions of danger that are overwhelming her. And then the dresses start to show up in her room. Magical dresses from nowhere, Thea needs answers.
Thea questions her father and the royal seer, but both are obviously hiding something from her. Determined to find answers, Thea finally stops resisting and puts on one of the outfits. As soon as she does, she is magically drawn out of her home, into the forest, and down into another world. There, a handsome stranger, Damon, is waiting for her. He offers to answer her questions and all for the cost of a dance.
Thea doesn’t trust him, but since he is the only one willing to talk to her, she keeps going to see him night after night. The fact that he’s sexy as hell and she feels magnetically drawn to him doesn’t hurt her desire to meet him either. But the more time she spends with him, the more unsettled she is. Thea doesn’t want to believe that Damon would hurt her, but she can’t deny that things aren’t right in his realm. Thea tries to form a plan that can save her, her family, and maybe even Damon. But she’s running out of time. Will she be able to save everyone, or is she as cursed as her missing mother?
A much better story than The Forest King’s Daughter
I read The Forest King’s Daughter last year, but I have to admit that I wasn’t super impressed with it. It was an “okay” story, but not great. So I wasn’t all that eager to read The Cursed Queen’s Daughter. However, Blake did a much better job with Thea’s story than she did with Cassia’s.
I found Thea to be a much more interesting person. I also thought that Damon was a much more intriguing foil for her than Zeru had been for Cassia. And more importantly, I thought that their relationship was a better dance than the tension between Cassia and Zeru. Damon and Thea are much more equal than Zeru and Cassia. And the attraction seems more natural, less forced. There is plenty of back-and-forth and uncertainty, but it is much better written and more enjoyable to experience. There is more going on in The Cursed Queen’s Daughter than just the romance, but the romance is very well done, and I was pleasantly surprised by it.
The character’s driving force changes the tone of Elly Blake’s novel
Thea and Cassia have different driving forces. The interesting thing is that they are both motivated by two things: their desire for their dad’s approval, and their desire to protect their family. But they feel each to different degrees. Cassia is mainly motivated by her desire to feel her dad’s approval. She leaves with Zeru because she wants to learn to use the ring to please her dad. That is a less interesting motivation and one I didn’t relate to well. It also makes Cassia feel like a weak creature that needs outside validation.
Thea, however, is more motivated by the desire to protect her family. That’s why she eventually defies her dad and keeps visiting Damon to discover the truth. I found her motivation much more relatable. Plus it makes for a stronger character. Thea isn’t looking for someone to tell her she’s good enough, she’s looking for the information she needs to protect her family. It shifts the story’s focus from internal (the need for validation) to external (the need to protect) and makes everything more exciting and relatable.
An adventure worth reading
The Cursed Queen’s Daughter is an adventure worth reading. It’s also a love story worth reading. The two are combined pretty well. Even though the romance aspect is obvious in The Cursed Queen’s Daughter, it was very well balanced with the danger to Thirstwood. I really liked reading a romance that didn’t shove the romance at the center. Some books in this genre are so focused on the relationship between the two leads that the rest of the story is forgotten and falls flat. But Blake avoids this pitfall and delivers a book that is both adventurous and romantic, and above all, enjoyable.
My Rating: 9/10
The Cursed Queen’s Daughter is now available to purchase at your retailer of choice.
Learn more about the book at the official website for the title.
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