Scan barcode
applejacksbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
So I really enjoyed this book. I didn’t really know what to expect since I got this as a gift and it wasn’t something I had picked out for myself, but I ended up really liking it. I think Mayara’s character growth could have been more, but it looks like this is the first in a series so there’s promise we’ll see more of her.
When we first learned about the test on Akena, I was like, “ugh, another Hunger Games retelling,” but I ended up really liking the way this one turned out. Mayara and Roe ended up being some of my favorite characters by the end. Overall, I think it’s a really nice (nice is probably the wrong word since it’s kind of a harsh book, but here we are) fantasy that’s set in a caribbean-esque world.
When we first learned about the test on Akena, I was like, “ugh, another Hunger Games retelling,” but I ended up really liking the way this one turned out. Mayara and Roe ended up being some of my favorite characters by the end. Overall, I think it’s a really nice (nice is probably the wrong word since it’s kind of a harsh book, but here we are) fantasy that’s set in a caribbean-esque world.
elyse12's review against another edition
5.0
*4.5*
This companion was so amazing! I loved this new story so much, I want more!
This companion was so amazing! I loved this new story so much, I want more!
lizdbooks's review against another edition
3.0
received from once upon a book club. An easy candy read. Enjoyable.
anjreading's review against another edition
4.0
I have nothing but praise for Durst’s fantasy world of Renthia. This is a standalone novel set in that world, but I highly recommend reading the Queens of Renthia trilogy to better understand the magic system of Renthia (also, they are awesome books). Mayara, an oyster diver in the islands of Belene, is set to marry the love of her life when she is forced to use her powers stopping a spirit storm that attacks her island on the day of her wedding. Forced to undergo the Island of Testing, a brutal place where malignant spirits constantly try to kill the potential heirs, Mayara forms bonds with some of the other women and sets out on a course to change the entire politics of her country. I love the message in these books, that women are stronger working together and love is one of the most powerful forces available to us.
jenni415's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this story. The fantasy world of Renthia is amazing and I plan to read more of the stories that take place in it. But I especially loved how much the story focused on Mayara and Kelo’s love for one another and fighting to be together again. Roe and Mayara working together to overcome the trials on the island were also inspiring. There was just so much to enjoy in this story.
mandimal's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
steph_lazar's review against another edition
5.0
Once again Durst really out does herself with the beautiful details. The desctiption of the spirts, lands, and queens is something to revel in. Through her story telling you really feel what the characters are feeling. I found myself connecting with each character. I felt their love, loss, and happiness. The Deepest blue is hands down the her best edition to The Queens of Renitha. Belene is described so aesthetically that you can really FEEL the island's details as if you were standing on each of their shores. I hope there are more books to follow this one.
octygon's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed getting the chance to spend time in this world again, but this was not as strong as the other books in the series.
vanquishingvolumes's review against another edition
4.0
This was my first foray into this fantasy world, and I now know I need to read more! A blind date with a book courtesy of my favorite independent scrunchie and book seller Yawny Studio, this tale of fierce women and young love was a delightful read. With shades of the Hunger Games thrown in, I was entranced by this story of island nations and the powerful women who could connect to the various spirits around them. But power is a sentence for these women - a sentence to either risk almost certain death to potentially become a future heir to the throne or to abandon their name, their family, and their voice to become a Silent Sister helping to guard the islands from rogue spirit attacks. Neither option is good. But the third option is death.
We follow young bride Mayara - who on her wedding day is forced to use her power to save her village when it is attacked by rogue spirits. The heirs to the throne should have been the ones to save the village - but they were dispatched elsewhere to save the wealthy elite families. Forced to protect her loved ones and unveil her power, Mayara is forced to make the choice between eternal, silent servitude or risking it all for the chance to maybe live long enough to return to her husband. The odds aren’t in her favor, but Mayara has never been one to give up when her loved ones are at risk. Torn from her family, she finds herself making friends with other women likewise sentenced to a short, unhappy future while uncovering dark secrets about the queens of the island. Unsure if her husband is alive or dead after she was forcibly taken from him, she will fight tooth and nail to return to her home and see if her love still lives. And she may just save the islands while she is at it.
We follow young bride Mayara - who on her wedding day is forced to use her power to save her village when it is attacked by rogue spirits. The heirs to the throne should have been the ones to save the village - but they were dispatched elsewhere to save the wealthy elite families. Forced to protect her loved ones and unveil her power, Mayara is forced to make the choice between eternal, silent servitude or risking it all for the chance to maybe live long enough to return to her husband. The odds aren’t in her favor, but Mayara has never been one to give up when her loved ones are at risk. Torn from her family, she finds herself making friends with other women likewise sentenced to a short, unhappy future while uncovering dark secrets about the queens of the island. Unsure if her husband is alive or dead after she was forcibly taken from him, she will fight tooth and nail to return to her home and see if her love still lives. And she may just save the islands while she is at it.