#TheWriteReads #BlogTour Review: Blood of the Lost Kingdom by Kristin Ward

⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Another suspenseful installment full of descriptive and atmospheric writing.

Thank you so much to The Write Reads and Kristin Ward for allowing me to be part of this experience and also providing me with a complimentary eARC and media kit!

Purchase this book (affiliate link): Amazon

About the Author

Kristin Ward is an award-winning young adult author living in Connecticut. A science and math teacher for over twenty years, she infuses her geeky passions into stories that meld realism and fantasy. Kristin embraces her inner nerd regularly, often quoting 80s movies while expecting those around her to chime in with appropriate rejoinders. As a nature freak, she can be found wandering the woods – she may be lost, so please stop and ask if you see her – or chilling in her yard with all manner of furry and feathered friends. Often referred to as a unicorn by colleagues who remain in awe of her ability to create or find various and sundry things in mere moments. In reality, the horn was removed years ago, leaving only a mild imprint that can be seen if she tilts her head just right. A lifelong lover of books and writing, she dreamed of becoming an author for thirty years before publishing her award-winning debut in 2018. Her first novel, After the Green Withered, is one of many things you should probably read.

https://www.kristinwardauthor.com/
Social Media & Other links: https://bit.ly/KWardAuthor

Review

Book CWs

For a list of warnings, tropes, and representation for this book, check out its page on BookTriggerWarnings.com.

Premise

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.

Review (No Spoilers)

Welcome back to my blog! Today I’m reviewing Blood of the Lost Kingdom which is a sequal to The Girl of Dorcha Wood. If you’re interested in reading my thoughts on the first book, click here.

This book was just as dark as the first. There was no shortage of depictions of violence, death, and grief. Definitely check out the trigger/content warnings above (some provided directly from the author!) if you’re worried about it.

Blood of the Lost Kingdom picks up very shortly after the events of The Girl of Dorcha Wood. We follow several stories involving Fiadh, Gideon, Haegna/Darragh, and a few more. In fact, my main qualm with reading the book was that there were so many stories to follow that I kept getting confused with names and storylines (😅). I would definitely recommend keeping track of the characters one way or another, especially considering that some of the chapter sections take place in the past with characters that reappear in the present.

By far, my favorite character in this book was Dasha, who I assume is the animal depicted on the front cover. She doesn’t have any dialogue, but she was such a hoot (pun intended)! I’m definitely a huge sucker for animal companions in books.

Once again, Kristin Ward did a great job writing a book that is atmospheric and makes you feel like you are physically there, experiencing everything first-hand. The plot is more complex than the first, and does a solid job preparing readers for the next installment. If you’re a fan of historical fantasy, especially one inspired by Irish folklore, definitely give this series a try.

If you’d like to follow along with the rest of the tour, you can find the tour schedule here!

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Disclaimer: Most posts made on this blog will include affiliate links, identified by the phrase (affiliate link). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This comes at no additional cost to you.