Ivynia has done it again. What a brilliant book! I loved the Flawed Princess and Queen Avan definitely is equal to that fantastic debut novel.
Avan is a common washerwoman from a small village in a rural setting. Avan struggles in a society marked by magic users, where she is one who hasn't shown any talent. Drought is slowly snuffing out the region and Avan decides to follow a group heading to the capital city in hopes of a better future. On their way, they are ambushed by raiders and Avan is separated from her friends. Together with Prince Cedric, Avan embarks on an adventure where she discovers her magical powers and realises the depth and uniqueness of her abilities. This book is an excellent introduction to this magical universe and what I love most about Queen Avan is how flawed this character is. She is convincingly naive, makes wrong decisions, muddles her way through and eventually, after dabbling in actions that very realistically could lead to evil, she has to reassess herself and make a decision. Ivynia spins Avan from a coarse, uneducated and simple washerwoman into a pure silver thread. Her journey is amazing and shows the way for the rest of us. Our lives are filled with difficult choices and often we lose track of what the right step is. Queen Avan is a lovely way for teenage readers to engage with our human capacity for evil and how to choose good instead.
This is a brilliant Young Adult Fantasy novel brimful of life lessons and perennial truths, to the point where it becomes immeasurably enjoyable to readers of all ages. There is adventure, heartbreak and loss, along with some wonderful clean romance and deep friendships. Ivynia's tale is beautiful, engaging and one of those books I simply couldn't put down. Her supporting characters are solid, intriguing and totally believable and the plot is filled with really enjoyable, unexpected twists. This book ends on a high note. It is empowering and leaves you with a glimmer of true hope.
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