A River of Royal Blood Book Review

Hello Gemmies! Today, I am giving you a spoiler free book review of A River of Royal Blood by Amanda Joy. Let me start by telling you, that I really enjoyed this book! A River of Royal Blood is a story about two rival princesses, who have to fight to the death in order for one of them to become Queen. The book is told from the point of one of the sisters....Eva.

Amanda Joy has created an African inspired lush magical world that has me wanting to book a trip to Myre. There are also lots of different creatures and races including fae, vampires, shape shifters, and more! 

I was expecting this book to show split POV's from both sisters. But we only get Eva's point of view. It worked for this book, but I do wish we could have learned more about the relationship between the two sisters, Eva and Isadore.

I really enjoy the way A River of Royal Blood addresses the impacts of colonization on a society and the complicated Magical system woven into its history. My only complaint, there is a huge plot twist at the end, and then the book ends on a cliffhanger...arrrgggghhh! Now I have to wait until 2020 for book two! The problems of a bookaholic!!!!

I give A River of Royal Blood 3 out of 4 gemstones! I highly recommend you add this book to your collection! Have you read this gem already? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Happy Reading!

Synopsis from Good Reads:
Sixteen-year-old Eva is a princess, born with the magick of marrow and blood--a dark and terrible magick that hasn't been seen for generations in the vibrant but fractured country of Myre. Its last known practitioner was Queen Raina, who toppled the native khimaer royalty and massacred thousands, including her own sister, eight generations ago, thus beginning the Rival Heir tradition. Living in Raina's long and dark shadow, Eva must now face her older sister, Isa, in a battle to the death if she hopes to ascend to the Ivory Throne--because in the Queendom of Myre only the strongest, most ruthless rulers survive.

When Eva is attacked by an assassin just weeks before the battle with her sister, she discovers there is more to the attempt on her life than meets the eye--and it isn't just her sister who wants to see her dead. As tensions escalate, Eva is forced to turn to a fey instructor of mythic proportions and a mysterious and handsome khimaer prince for help in growing her magick into something to fear. Because despite the love she still has for her sister, Eva will have to choose: Isa's death or her own.

A River of Royal Blood is an enthralling debut set in a lush North African inspired fantasy world that subtly but powerfully challenges our notions of power, history, and identity.