The Forest King's daughter by Elly Blake

The Forest King's Daughter is the first in a new series, however this book felt like a stand alone novel.  The story starts with two young children becoming friends, sharing an innocent friendship that unwittingly unleashes a war between their two families.  A forest princess is gifted a worthless trinket by a demon boy that turns out to be a tool to blind and disorientate demons when worn by a forest princess.

The story then leaps forward to the two main characters being older and fighting in their respective armies with Zeru, the demon boy trying to restore his good name within his family.  After they are reunited, Cassia and Zeru find that their childhood feelings are growing into something stronger but so is the war that will tear them apart again. 

This book is well written, and the characters are likeable, I particularly liked Zeru and wanted him to triumph in gaining his family’s favour and the love of Cassia.  The story is written in a fairytale style with a lyrical quality that immerses the reader in the world and the war that is raging across it. The fact that the main characters had been friends as children complicated their relationship as young adults as they had trusted each other but now are at war, and this creates an interesting romance storyline. 

This is a great YA fantasy story and will appeal to many readers as the action is steady and the romance is built without being over the top and overdone.  This would make a great addition to any bookshelf and if the series is as good as the first book, it will become a favourite with fantasy readers.

Themes: Fantasy, Adventure, Family, Forbidden love, Friendship.

Mhairi Alcorn