We don’t know if anyone’s noticed yet, but the book team here at THP has been on fire this year! From back-to-back book reviews to our monthly Sweet Reads and Sweet Listens columns, we keep a tight schedule.
The last romantasy we talked about featured Polish folklore. The one before that had elements of Persian mythology. Today’s fantasy draws inspiration from Philippine lore, so we had to jump on it!
Reading Melissa de la Cruz’s latest YA fantasy, The Encanto’s Daughter, is a no-brainer, actually. And if you can’t get it yet, add it to your TBR for us. Here are three things we love about The Encanto’s Daughter by Melissa de la Cruz!
Book Overview
Content Warnings: death, murder, violence, gore, deceased parents
Summary: MJ Rodriguez has spent her life hiding in the human world, keeping a heavy secret. She’s half-encanto. As the only child of King Vivencio of the Sirena Court, she’s also next in line for the throne. And now, upon her estranged father’s sudden death, MJ must claim her place as rightful heir.
In wondrous Biringan, the road to the throne is paved with thorns. Without a reigning monarch, the realm has spiraled into disarray. MJ has to win over a backstabbing council that objects to a half-human ruler. And when it looks like her father’s passing wasn’t natural but possibly inflicted by a curse, she must hunt down the sorceress behind this merciless magic.
In a bind, MJ forges an unlikely alliance with the striking Sir Lucas of the feared Sigbin Court, and soon, she loses her heart to the mysterious knight. But with peril looming over Biringan, the princess must decide if she can both open herself to love and carry the weight of the crown.
The Fantasy World-Building
One thing about THP: we love some incredible world-building! And The Encanto’s Daughter checks off that box for us. The Island of Biringan is a magical place inhabited by fantastical beings, or encantos. Each encanto’s appearance and magic vary depending on which court they’re from: Sirena, Sigbin, Lambana, or Tikbalang. Not only that, but the author also validates the existence of other fantasy worlds, such as Avalon and Jade Mountain. And did we mention there’s a detailed map to accompany The Encanto’s Daughter?
Court Politics
Our protagonist, MJ Rodriguez, has much to learn and prove once she makes it to Biringan. And that’s putting it lightly. She only has a month to study everything about Biringan history, etiquette, and palace officials while trying to conjure up her unique magical powers in time for her coronation. Then, on top of that, a dark witch is out to get MJ and steal her throne, but she can’t figure out who yet. Not to mention that several council members don’t deem her fit to rule due to her half-encanto, half-human lineage. The political drama is never-ending with The Encanto’s Daughter!
The Ending
We won’t spoil too much about the ending of The Encanto’s Daughter, but we want it to be known that WE KNEW IT ALL ALONG! We don’t usually solve mysteries before the end, so this is a big deal. Be prepared for an illegal cliffhanger ending (but it’s okay, because at least there is a sequel on the way). We love how MJ discovers her powers and becomes crowned the Queen of Biringan. On the other hand, we don’t know how we feel about the status of MJ’s romance with Sir Lucas at the end, and we just want to know where he stands.
A YA romantasy brimming with Philippine mythology and political drama, adding Melissa de la Cruz’s The Encanto’s Daughter to your TBR is a no-brainer!
The Encanto’s Daughter by Melissa de la Cruz is out on March 5th, and you can preorder a copy of it here!
What do you think of Melissa de la Cruz’s The Encanto’s Daughter? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
Want to hear some of our audiobook recommendations? Here’s the latest!
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