Daughter of the Drowned Empire by Frankie Diane Mallis
Book review
Star rating: 5
Blurb:
19-year-old mage Lady Lyriana Batavia is third in line to the Seat of Power in Bamaria: a position of wealth and privilege, but not safety. Bamaria falls under the rule of the Lumerian Empire, survivors of a celestial war whose island sank in the Drowning. Now all Lumerians submit to the Emperor and his strict laws about magic. He decides what magic can be practiced and what powers remain forbidden. He decides who will die for possession of forbidden magic.
Lyr’s own cousin was executed for wielding the wrong kind. And for years, Lyr has sworn to protect her older sisters, helping them conceal their own illicit magic.
But when Lyr must participate in the ceremony that reveals her power, she uncovers something else entirely. Something that means banishment from the Empire.
Faced with death in exile, and leaving her sisters behind, Lyr has no choice but to accept a deadly contract. She has seven months to train as a warrior and pass the emperor’s brutal test of strength—all without magic.
But when she’s forced to train with Lord Rhyan Hart, the man she’s secretly loved since she was a girl—a feared warrior in exile himself, forbidden to her in every way—she’s in danger of losing far more than her family, life, and country.
Rebel forces, and an invading army, are destabilizing Bamaria, just as her family’s secrets threaten to reveal themselves.
Surviving the training and saving her sisters may mean sacrificing her own heart.
————————————–Possible Spoilers Below———————————-
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Content warnings:
Violence, a bit of explicit steaminess, and lashings. As always be sure to double check trigger warnings for any book before you get started!
Characters:
The main characters we follow throughout this story are Lyr, and Rhyan as they try to navigate a world where opinions matter above all else. She is 3rd in line for the seat of power, and has done everything for her family.
Rhyan is foresworn, he broke an oath which is not a good thing especially with how powerful his father is. Being foresworn is worse than being a bastard, in my opinion. Its hard to go from having everything to not having anything at all.
Which Character did you find the most compelling?
I love Lyr, and hate that she is going through everything she is, but in a this is a great book and I can’t wait to see what happens kind of way.
Writing Style:
I love the way the author crafts her descriptions and the imagery, it all works in tune with the story.
My opinions:
- This is absolutely a new favorite series of mine, and I am obsessed. Obsessed with the world building, the characters, the hierarchy, and the politics that keep this world moving.
- I love the animals and creatures that the author has created and the significance behind them to her world. Mallis does a wonderful job of showing not telling, and I can visualize the world as the character moves through it.
- This book made me remember days where I had felt powerless to do anything to help and while that is a terrible feeling, it is what Lyr was feeling as she starts her journey. I’m excited to see what Lyr does and how things change for her as the books progress.
- There wasn’t anything I truly disliked other than Tristan. Its like a love hate thing, I love to hate him.
- I can see where the author may have gotten some inspiration from Jennifer L. Armentrout and her series From Ash and Blood, because I did catch a similar vibe while reading. But, it isn’t enough of a similarity to make me not want to read it. The creatures, and governmental hierarchy is different than anything else that I have read, which makes this book unique in more than one way.
Conclusion:
Would I recommend this book?
Absolutely, if you love rich world building, new world vs old world, and From Blood and Ash please check this book out. It has become one of my favorites and I am anxiously awaiting the next book.
Did you learn anything from this book?
People in power don’t listen to those below, and will do anything to get and maintain even more power, don’t doubt a father’s love, and just take one step at a time, you can’t always be good at something the first go around.