A review by anjreading
The Deepest Blue by Sarah Beth Durst

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.