A review by colossal
The Waking Land by Callie Bates

3.0

Fairly run of the mill fantasy about Elanna Valtai, a "chosen one" from the subjugated Kingdom of Caeris raised as a hostage in the conquering Kingdom of Eren. When the King of Eren is poisoned, Elanna is framed for his murder and she is forced to flee to the country of her birth where she is a stranger.

I found this book to be long and repetitive with not enough going on to justify its length. Fortunately it is a complete story, even though it's the first of a trilogy. I did appreciate the point of view of a hostage child with divided loyalties, but I didn't feel the progression of her loyalties was particularly well done.