Hoping For More: Queen in Exile - Donna Hatch

Title: Queen in Exile
Author: Donna Hatch
Page Count: 373 Pages
Published: Published March 28th 2010 by Walnut Springs Press
Rating: 5/5
Genre: YA, Fantasy

Rumors of War hang over Princess Jeniah's peaceful country of Arden, a land that shuns both magic and warfare. Following a lifelong dream, Jeniah forms a telepahtic bond with a revered creature called a chayim, who is prophesied to save her kingdom. But when a Darborian knight comes upon Jeniah with her chayim, he sees only a vicious monster about to devour a maiden, and he slays the beast.

Devastated by the loss of her chayim, and fearing that her own magic is evil, Jeniah doubts her destiny. When an enemy invades Arden City, they slaughter the people, storm the castle, and execute the entire royal family except the princess. Rescued by the knight who slew her chayim, Jeniah is now heir to the throne of Arden and the only hope for freeing her people from tyranny.

On the run and hunted by enemy soldiers, Jeniah must place her life and the fate of her kingdom in the hands of this trained killer. Torn between embracing her destiny as queen af Arden, and her love for a mere knight, she must ultimately rely on her magic to save herself and her people from death and tyranny.

My Review:

I was very pleasantly surprised with this book. I bought it to be my "Q" book for the alphabet reading challenge and am so happy that I did!

This adventure/journey with a bit of magic thrown in was just the right tempo and the relationship between the two main characters was executed and progressed perfectly. I also liked that it is a stand-alone novel, but I felt like I had read a whole series - nothing was left lacking and the character and world development were exceptional. Two thumbs up.

Jeniah is on the run for her life with a man sworn to protect her, that she isn't sure she can trust. Facing obstacles and challenges she was never prepared for as a princess, she must fight to survive. Her toughest battle turns out to be fighting through the warriors emotional shields to get to his heart.

Kai is a fierce warrior honour-bound to protect not only the young princesses life, but her virtue. As his feelings for her grow into something more than just protector, he must remember his place in the world, and hers. Fighting off enemies at every turn he must lay his life on the line in every possible way in order to restore her to her rightful throne.