A River of Royal Blood gifts readers with an intricately crafted world full of political intrigue

A River of Royal Blood offers readers an intricately built world with plenty of political intrigue to keep them turning the pages.

Fantasy stories full of court politics never seem to grow old, and that’s especially true when authors take that political intrigue and put an interesting twist on it. That’s exactly what Amanda Joy does in her debut novel, A River of Royal Blood, which sets two sisters — also known as Rival Heirs — against one another in a to-the-death fight for the Queendom of Myre.

Readers follow the younger of these sisters, Eva, as her 17th nameday approaches. That’s the day she and Isadore can officially begin their confrontation — though it’s hardly a competition when you consider that Eva hasn’t been able to use her magick since she was a child. Because of that, Eva’s all but given up on any chance of her sitting on the throne when she returns to the palace.

Things change when she runs into Baccha, a legendary hunter who possesses the same Blood Magick that Eva does. He’s the first person she’s ever actually met with the same powers as her, and he’s the first real teacher she’s ever had. Together, the two begin preparing for Eva’s nameday — though with assassins on their tails and secrets lurking around every corner, it’s going to take more than mastering her magic to truly win her kingdom over.

Joy’s world in A River of Royal Blood gifts readers with an expansive world, to the point where readers might need to revisit some passages just to remember all the history behind the story. It’s impressive how much detail Joy puts into her world building, and given that this novel is the first in a series, it’s likely readers will get to see more of Myre and its surrounding territories.

The twists surrounding both the historical components of the plot and what’s happening with Eva’s storyline are suspenseful and will keep readers turning the pages, especially when it seems that Eva can’t trust anyone or anything — including Myre’s historical texts. As she uncovers more about her kingdom’s past, it becomes clear that readers can draw parallels to the way nations tweak history in real life, adding an extra layer to an already complex story.

And of course, while readers do get their unsettling answers toward the end of the book, Eva’s actions also raise more questions heading into book two. The final chapters present all new obstacles for the younger Rival Heir as she foregoes everything expected of her and takes control of her destiny. It’s a powerful ending for her, but it also leaves fans wanting more. How long do we need to wait for the sequel again?

Have you picked up Amanda Joy’s A River of Royal Blood? Tell us what you thought in the comments below.