The Third Daughter

May 8, 2023
In the Kingdom of Velle, a prophecy states that Princess Brianne Warnou, the youngest of three princesses, is the long-awaited reincarnation of the New Maiden, a magically gifted prophet and now the rightful heir to the throne. Though Brianne’s station is considered a boon to the kingdom, her coronation inspires fear in eldest princess Elodie, 17, who worries that her 13-year-old sister’s appointed corrupt Queen Regent spells disaster for Velle. Desperate, Elodie visits 17-year-old apothecary Sabine to buy a sleeping potion to use on Brianne, hoping a temporary sleep will afford Elodie enough time to usurp the throne. But when Sabine, whose sadness can be used as a poisonous magical draught, accidentally mixes up the potion with a vial of her tears, Brianne is sent into an unbreakable sleep that the regent uses to cement his power. As Elodie and Sabine search for a remedy, they’re roped into a centuries-long conspiracy with horrific implications. While slight worldbuilding occasionally causes confusion, this sprawling fantasy by Tooley (Sofi and the Bone Song), told in alternating third-person narration that features excerpts from Brianne’s dreams and Velle’s historical New Maiden scriptures, features frothy romance and charismatic, take-charge heroines. Major characters read as white. Ages 14–up. Agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret.

June 1, 2023
Expectations weigh heavily--even on those who are passed over. Princess Elodie will not inherit her mother's throne even though she's the eldest. She has trained to be Queen's Regent to her youngest sister, Brianne, who is the third daughter of a third daughter and supposedly the second coming of the church's revered New Maiden. But now the Chaplain, who's also the girls' father, has usurped even that role from her. Skeptical of the church's motives, Elodie seeks a potion to put 13-year-old Brianne to sleep until she comes of age at 17. That would mean Elodie could meanwhile rule in her stead. Apothecary Sabine sells her family's potions, which are given more potency from a special ingredient: Sabine's tears, which are the manifestation of her magic, a darkness that literally coats her veins in blackness. Sabine accidentally gives Elodie a bottle of her tears, and there's no telling what the result might be or if Sabine can reverse its effect. The two 17-year-old girls are thrown together in a web of power-grabbing intrigue, diluted prophecies, familial expectations, slow-burn Sapphic romance, and building magic. This fantasy world comes with a layered faux religious backstory, but it includes a few layers too many. Characters fulfill their assigned roles but remain flat on the page, and more is explained than witnessed, so even betrayals feel deflated. The prospect of a sequel set up at the end is likewise lackluster. With one minor exception, most characters are described as pale. Offers muted charms. (Fantasy. 14-18)

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July 1, 2023
Grades 8-12 Elodie is the eldest daughter of Velle's queen and destined for the throne until her sister Brianne is born, fulfilling a prophecy for the kingdom's New Maiden. Deeply upset by her change in fortune but also concerned for the fate of Velle, as the New Maiden might pose a true danger to the kingdom, Elodie takes desperate action. She intends to purchase a sleeping potion from the mysterious Sabine, an apothecary, but is accidentally sold a potent potion for sadness instead. The mistake is realized too late, and Brianne is plunged into an unwakeable sleep from which Elodie and Sabine must rouse her if their kingdom is to be saved. Emotions run high in this engaging fantasy, where sparks fly between Elodie and Sabine and royals battle. The dangers of dictated religions and the manipulative power they can wield provide an interesting undercurrent to the narrative, which advocates for conscious action and genuine communication between families. A quick, magical, and interesting read.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 1, 2023

Gr 8 Up-The Prophecy for the population of Velle predicts the return of the venerated New Maiden, born to the third daughter of a third daughter. The eldest of three daughters, Elodie has been training to assist her youngest sister, the ascending New Maiden Brianne, as the Queen's Regent. When their mother Queen Tera dies, Brianne is only 13 and not yet of age to take the throne. Elodie's training is dismissed by the misogynist Chaplain, who doubles as Brianne's father, seizing the chance to commandeer being Regent for political gain and his nefarious ideals. Desperate to keep the land from being run by the Chaplain, Elodie seeks out an apothecary, Sabine, for a potion to put her sister into a deep sleep until she is of age, with the goal of temporarily defaulting the crown back to Elodie as eldest daughter of the deceased queen. This gripping sapphic fantasy portrays the anti-hero princess taking on the patriarchy. Potential love interest Sabine has a deep sadness that results in magical tears for her potions. The absolute rage of Elodie and the softer, emotional needs of Sabine complement each other and help their alternate character traits emerge. As they work together to help Brianne unseat the Chaplain, some alliances with friends and family change, making trust hard to come by. The Chaplain's fictitious sinister religious sect is metaphorical and a cautionary tale. Just when readers think they have this sorted out, a twist ending alludes to a second book in the planned duology. VERDICT Immersive and intense; hand this royal fantasy to readers of Kendare Blake's "Three Dark Crowns" and Victoria Aveyard's "Red Queen" series.-Lisa Krok

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