Arca

January 16, 2023
The Drought of Girls has ended but all is not well in Macallister’s enthralling second Five Queendoms epic fantasy (after Scorpica). The usually harmonious matriarchal societies are in disarray and heading toward war. Young Queen Eminel of magical Arca navigates her new position in the wake of the events of the Rites of the Bloody-Handed and the deaths of both Mirri, the previous queen of Arca, and Sessadon, Mirri’s killer. In trade-hub queendom Paxim, Queen Heliane works to gain support for her son, Paulus, becoming the land’s first king. And, after growing up in scholarly Bastion, safely away from warlike Scorpica, Ama (the daughter of Scorpica’s late queen) finds a place as Paulus’s bodyguard, his life in her hands. Meanwhile, Queen Tamura leads the Scorpicae as they instigate attacks on Arca. Macallister keeps the tension high, brilliantly weaving together political intrigue and adventure. The refreshing worldbuilding and intricate character work remain highlights. This takes the series to new heights. Agent: Holly Root, Root Literary.

January 20, 2023
Following the climactic events of Scorpica (2022), the drought of girls has ended, but those 14 long years have taken a toll on the 5 queendoms. The queen of Paxim wishes to place her son on the throne and has unknowingly chosen the grown child of a slain warrior queen as his bodyguard. The young, unexpectedly designated queen of Arca struggles to control her all-powerful talents while fearing she is still being manipulated by the duplicitous, ancient sorceress who taught her magic. The queen of Scorpica has moved her warriors into forbidden territory sacred to the goddess of death, using it as a hidden base from which to raid in Arca while pursuing her quest for conquest. None are aware that some of the gods are intervening in affairs to further an insidious plan of their own; one that, if successful, will change the entire world. Characters from book one are revisited and new personalities introduced, enhancing the story and expanding the plotlines, setting the stage for the final book in the Five Queendoms trilogy.

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