Omg I loved this book!!!!!
The audio was fantastic and this story was just great!!!

I hope there's a sister spin off!

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, Little Brown Young Readers, Elly Blake, and Eleanor Bennett for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook of The Forest King's Daughter in exchange for an honest review.

Going in here as a Frostblood fan! Before I touch on my thoughts, a bit on the story:

Cassia and Zeru are childhood friends of varying fae races. One day Zeru gives Cassia a ring that can supposedly destroy his race. Were they aware of that as children? Eh, probably not. They don't talk for many years as their races come to war with and despise each other.

They reunite when the power of the ring comes into question. They work together, albeit begrudgingly, to find the answers they seek. While it is a very slow burn, there is an enemies-to-lover element present.

I consider the writing very dreamlike, as it almost give's off A Midsummer Night's Dream vibes in the visuals, though the fae and settings described are a bit darker in element. The prose is eloquent and enjoyable. I loved Blake as a writer with her Frostblood debut, and I find she has only grown as a writer. Even though I love the writing, the story didn't impact me on the same level that Frostblood did, but it was still a richly enjoyable experience emphasized by the amazing narration skills of Eleanor Bennett for the audiobook.

The Forest King's Daughter is considered Book 1 of the Thirstwood series, but the novel certainly feels wholesome and complete. Either the series will follow what's next for these characters, introducing a new conflict, or it may feature other types of fae we haven't really seen yet, taking place within this elaborate world.

I find that any seeker of Young Adult Fantasy will fall in love with Blake's craft and the allure of this novel!

This story was really interesting, and I definitely enjoyed the plot, however, I really struggled with the narrator and that's what ultimately led me to not being able to finish the audiobook, but I did finish the actual book.3.5/5 for audiobook, 4.5/5 for the book!

Reading this book was so fantastic! I've enjoyed her other series, and I was looking forward to reading this book, so getting the audio arc was really great, and I picked it as soon as I could! And oh, I'm glad that I did, it was such a great read!

When the prologue set up the story, of these two groups who co-existed uneasily, but when these two kids form a friendship, and he gives her an seemingly insignificant gift, well, it causes a huge rupture, and l felt so bad for the pair of them, they were just children, and they didn't know what was going on.

Then we get to the bulk of the story, years later with Cassia the bearer of the ring, and being told that's her purpose, and she's not doing it right, and that's a lot of pressure to be under, especially given that she's been under that pressure basically since she got the ring.

I loved watching her come into her own, to learn more about the ring and how it works, as well as spend time with Zeru, in their friends to enemies to lovers arc. I really adored their relationship and how it grew and changed. Watching her learn gave us the opportunity to explore the world and it's history, and I'm excited to see more in the future installments!

Loved reading this book, and I can't wait to see where this series goes from here!

This book was so good. It doesn't follow your typical YA fantasy plot.

The enemies to lovers was in my opinion so well done, it was amazing. I genuinely enjoyed it.

Characters to be honest didn't care for them much but I enjoyed the plot very much. The flow was very good, and it was written well. I'm definitely looking forward the next parts of the series.

Thank you Hatchette audio for a free advanced listener copy of this book.
3.75 ⭐️

I’m finding I’m really enjoying these dark woodsy type books. This book was a fun friends to enemies to lovers. The world building was great, not too detailed but not in lacking way. Th pacing was great for the story. It was a fun quick read.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy!

I've read one other book by Elly Blake, and it wasn't for me. But this one was so fun! I enjoyed it much more. If you are looking for a light fantasy with good romance, this is a good one for you!

I was absolutely enchanted by the opening to this book and by the quality of the writing, world building, and characters. I've been a fan of Blake's for years and it's thrilling to see how her writing has developed and grown. Can't wait to see what she does next!

I really enjoyed this audiobook! The narrator was wonderful and really drew you into the story. Loved the writing story and plot as well. Definitely recommend this audiobook!

My nine year old daughters would absolutely love this one. I love the narrator. This is a lovely book for young adults or even children.

A book with both whimsy and teeth, a sense of familiarity as well as fresh worldbuilding, The Forest King’s Daughter is a beautifully written tale for the fantasy lover. The audiobook narration is filled with heart and emotion, and the performance truly felt like Cassia.

The Forest King’s Daughter is perfect for readers who enjoy:
- Star-crossed lovers
- Childhood friends-to-enemies-to-lovers
- Slow-burn romance
- Fantasy that feels like folklore
- Magical, sentient objects
- Warring kingdoms and alliances
- Layered family dynamics and coming to terms with the family you have vs the family you want
- SISTERS

Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the audiobook ARC. I look forward to Elly Blake’s future projects.

What an adorable YA fantasy! Friends to Enemies to First Loves! ❤️ Super cute, easy read/listen.

Once upon a time, among the bloodred trees of Thirstwood, a young forest princess became friends with a lonely boy from underground. He gifted her an amber ring, a worthless trinket—or so he thought—because no sooner did he slide it onto her finger than the queen of the underground and the forest king declared war.
Years later, Cassia is a crucial force in her father’s army, wielding her ring of light that can blind and disorient hundreds of enemies at a time. Then battle-hardened Zeru abducts her, planning to steal the ring back to fix his costly childhood mistake. Exhausted, terrified, and more than a little mistrusting, Cassia is forced to travel with Zeru to a place they both believed only existed in storybooks, one where their childhood friendship slowly rekindles into something much more. But it's only a matter of time before the war they’ve escaped comes for them, and a hidden threat to forest and underground folk alike grows in the shadows.

Thanks to NetGalley & Hachette Audio for the ALC of this book!
#TheForestKingsDaughter #NetGalley

The Forest King's Daughter
By: Elly Blake
Narrated by: Elanor Bennett
Publisher: Hachette Audio

"I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
I didn't initially love the narration by Eleanor Bennett, but by the end of the book she WAS Cassia. I think she actually voiced the character really well.
I assumed that this was going to be a standard fae book with the forest king title and the comparisson to Holly Black, but it was so much more than that. The author made her own world. The varied types of forest people were all interconected and interesting.
I really enjoyed the sisterhood and bond Cassia shared there, which was great since her father was an emotionally abusive jerk. The love story with Zeru was also well developed.
Overall, I really enjoyed it.

I would round this up to 4.5/5. This audiobook was a bit slow for me in the beginning and I lost focus a few times, but as things started happening I became really immersed in the story. I was shocked by a plot twist about Zeru. At first I was upset by it, but then it made a bit more sense to me and I found it beautiful since Cassia shared a similar fate.

As characters, I truly enjoyed both Cassia and Zeru. While their personalities were so different at first, they really weren't all to different in the end. One of my favorite things Cassia does is when she calls Zeru a "naughty lying Dracu." The tone in which she says it made me giggle every time. I do enjoy how their relationship progressed throughout the story. They both have to overcome struggles and make difficult decisions that could impact their kinds lives.

Another thing I really enjoyed were the different creatures and species. They were very unique and described so vividly that I was easily able to imagine what they looked like. This was one of my favorite reads of the year and I can't wait for the sequel. Thank you to Netgalley, Hachette Audio, and Elly Blake for an ARC of this audiobook. This review is my own honest opinion.

The Forest King’s Daughter
By Elly Blake
Narrated by Eleanor Bennett
4 ⭐️

This was a good read. It’s creature heavy with humans only mentioned here and there; which I personally love. This read to me like a gentile version of a T. Kingfisher fairytale. It’s classic romantasy that leans heavily into forest folklore (some traditional, some new) giving it a distinct voice. It’s us vs them - are “we” the good guys or bad guys? It’s a slow burn friends to enemies to more romance that takes the whollllle book. This is listed as book 1. I’m wondering if it’s a series of standalones or will expand to be continuous later on. This book is a complete story without a cliffhanger. Bennett provides a good narration for the audiobook. I didn’t have any issues at all. I really enjoyed this story and happily recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Elly Blake, and Hachette audio for this audiobook ARC.

Sadly, this was not what I expected. I couldn't get through the story and the narrator wasn't my favourite. I abandoned it at about 25%

The Forest King’s Daughter is an enchanting mix of enemies-to-lovers romance, rich world-building, and lyrical prose. Elly Blake weaves a dreamlike story that feels both familiar and fresh, with a dynamic central relationship that kept me hooked.

Cassia and Zeru’s relationship reminded me of Jude and Cardan from The Cruel Prince—sharp, intense, and full of tension. But what really set this book apart for me was the writing’s ethereal quality, reminiscent of Madeline Miller. The audiobook experience was elevated by Eleanor Bennett’s incredible narration. She brought each character to life with a depth and tone that reminded me of The Dark Crystal—which is high praise as it was one of my favorite films as a child.

Overall, The Forest King’s Daughter is a beautifully immersive fantasy that left me eager for more. I was thoroughly entertained and can’t wait to see where the series goes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the advanced audiobook copy.

Book Review: The Forest King’s Daughter
(Advanced Audio Copy from NetGalley & Hachette Books)

The Forest King’s Daughter was an incredibly fun listen, enhanced by a narrator who truly brought the characters and emotions to life. The voice work added depth, making it easy to get immersed in the world and its characters.

The fantasy elements were rich and well-developed, with intriguing characters, unique places, and glimpses into past stories that wove seamlessly into the main narrative. However, the middle of the book did drag a bit, feeling longer than necessary, and the villains were somewhat easy to identify. That said, once the story pushed past that mid-section lag, the pacing picked up again, making for an exciting and satisfying finish.

Overall, this was an enjoyable fantasy read with a compelling world and strong narration that made the listening experience even better. If you enjoy immersive audiobooks with a solid fantasy backdrop, this one is worth checking out!

If you love a mix of fantasy, magic, war, friendship, and pure young love - this book is for you.
I absolutely loved it!

I can't remember if I ever read an enemies-to-lovers trope, but this book had my full attention.
I love how the author portrayed the characters. I feel like it is hard to find a teenage book where the characters actually act like teenagers. This one was it, and even though I was at moments pissed at the characters, that just confirmed that the author did her job well!

In my opinion, the world-building was phenomenal. So many different things happened in this part only that it feels like a complete book in itself, but I also can't wait for the next part.

The narrator did her job amazingly, and covered all of the roles well, that I wasn't even bothered it was only one POV the entire time.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this one and would wholeheartedly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for granting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I…. did not love this book. Maybe it’s because YA has begun to lean a bit more mature lately, but this book struck me as awfully juvenile. This isn’t inherently a bad thing, just something I don’t enjoy as a reader. It doesn’t help that the voice actor for this book also sounds incredibly juvenile. Think a young Emma Watson. Her voice is nice, and she speaks very clearly. When it comes to male lines, however, it doesn’t work well. Overall, this book isn’t bad. It just wasn’t for me.