Queen of the Blood Throne

The dark fantasy, QUEEN OF THE BLOOD THRONE, is the second book of Rhiannon Hargadon’s Descendants of the Fate series, but the prequel to the first book in the series, QUEENS OF MORAI. Malinda, a talented thief, is rescued and then hired by Melchior, the Prince of Darkness, son of Atropos, the Fate in charge of Death. He wants her to steal the mask known as Eternal Slumber from his mother. Separated from her twin at birth and exiled from her family, Malinda was raised by Zephyros Castan, leader of the Jackdaws. But she wants more than to be a thief tied to a gang. The money from Melchior would give her the freedom she craves. Hargadon’s writing is gorgeous, and the love story that unfolds between Malinda and Melchior is beautiful. The world building is intricate and interesting. There are escalating plot twists along the way that keep the pages turning. The characters are strong, engaging, and memorable. Malinda and Melchior’s dance between love and fear of rejection is particularly riveting. Even characters who appear in only a few scenes have gems of memorable moments. The book can be read as a stand-alone, or as part of the series.