Format: Kindle, 204 pages
Release Date: December 21, 2022
Publisher: Supernal Publishing
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Fantasy / Romance
In Arcadia, they say, no one can escape the hand of Fate.
In
the frozen city of Windhelm, the crown of Arcadia’s Winter Kingdom, the
Royal Selection reigns supreme. This competition pits the best of
Winter’s young Fae against each other, forcing them to take part in a
series of trials, each deadlier than the one that came before it.
The prize?
A soul-bond with the heir to Winter’s throne, and the right to marry them.
It
sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Each of the Selection’s competitors has
spent years training, honing their abilities to become the best that
Winter has to offer. Whoever wins would be the perfect match for any
Royal.
Only I’m Windhelm’s Princess, heir to the throne, and I'm not marrying anyone just because they tell me to.
Lost is the first installment in author Katerina Martinez's The Daughter of Ice and Moonlight. This is a spin-off from the authors The Coldest Fae series, but set 20 years after the ending. This series once again focuses on the Winter Court in Arcadia. (20-year old) Princess Amara Wolfsbane is the daughter of Queen Dahlia Wolfsbane of Windhelm, aka the White Wolf, and King Cillian Wolfsbane of Windhelm. Amara is half human, half fae, and can shift to a 4 legged wolf just like her mother, and brother Radulf. Amara doesn't like the fact that she has no say in what happens to her future.
She is supposed to sit silently and cheer on the competition called The Royal Selection that pits the best of Winter’s young Fae males against each other, forcing them to take part in a series of trials, each deadlier than the one that came before it. The winner will be married to Amara regardless if she likes the person or not. Funny since her own mother had to deal with the same Selection process in the original series, and made a connection to Cillian during the process, yet there is something secretive about not allowing Amara to make up her own mind.
After a disastrous round where almost every fails, including the front runner and odds on favorite to win, it is the mysterious Valerian who survives by doing the impossible; defeating a dark monster that seems nearly indestructible. Soon thereafter, frustrated by her parents refusal to explain to her why she has to go through with the Selection, Amara leaves to find her brother Radulf who is Alpha of the Moon Children. Along for the ride is her friend Tallin who is a winter sprite.
Later, after a reunion and a challenge from her brothers pack, she meets Gullie, who was once Dahlia's friend and confidant. Without spoiling anything further, Amara makes lots of mistakes in this book, and it comes with a heavy cost. She really spits in the face of Fate, and dares Fate to do something about it. She comes across as a spoiled child at times, not understanding things that happen have nothing to do with her parents love for her. To make matters worse, Valerian is caught up in the nightmare created by Amara which ends on a cliffhanger ending bring the series right back to where Dahlia's journey began in the Coldest Fae series.
I am not normally one to start and stop a series. But I dare hope the sequel to this book is better and less grating one my nerves.
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