The Queen's Choice

Gr 9 Up—Anya has led a charmed life as one of the members of the royal family in the fairy Kingdom of Chrior, traveling between the mortal and fae worlds at whim and enjoying her betrothal to sweet Davic. When her ailing aunt, the Queen of the Faeries, appoints her as the next ruler instead of her cousin Illumina, her destiny completely changes. Not content with the decision, the teen leaves to find her half-human cousin Zabriel, the rightful heir to the throne, who abandoned the realm because of his mixed heritage. At the start of the protagonist's journey, she's attacked and loses her wings and much of her magic. Anya survives with the help of a human family, especially that of the eldest daughter, Shea, who nurses her back to health. The two continue on the dangerous quest to find the missing prince. When they find him, all bonds are put to the ultimate test. This high fantasy series opener is off to an intriguing start. Rich details, emotionally deep characters, and original plot elements will attract new and old fans of the fae subgenre. While The Queen's Choice begins and ends strongly, the pacing lags in the middle chapters, but the cliff-hanger ending will have readers promptly asking for the next title in the trilogy. A great addition for libraries looking to deepen their high fantasy collection.—Stephanie Charlefour, Wixom Public Library, MI