THE QUEEN OF BLOOD Out Now with Brand New Cover!

Today is the book birthday for the new trade paperback edition of my epic fantasy, THE QUEEN OF BLOOD!!! This is book one of my Queens of Renthia trilogy. Book two will be coming out in one month (on 5/6) and book three the month after that (on 6/3) -- all with brand-new gorgeous covers by Alexander Jansson! 

This book was born in blood. 

About ten years ago, I went to a writing retreat in the Poconos. Beautiful place. Forests. Hills. Prancing deer and babbling brooks, the whole works. Every writer was given this adorable wood cabin nestled within the pines. I was walking up to mine, marveling at the trees, reveling in the bird song, generally feeling like Snow White with a laptop... and I oh-so-gracefully tripped on the front step and fell flat on my face. Tasted blood and thought, "Bloodthirsty nature spirits!"

So that's what these books are about: bloodthirsty nature spirits and the queens who can control them.

I loved writing these books! It was such an incredibly immersive writing experience. Every time I sat at my desk, it felt like I was walking through the wardrobe into Narnia -- except a Narnia where the trees will most likely kill you. I'm so excited that these books have been re-released in this new lovely format for both new and old readers to find!

Thank you to Harper Voyager, my editor David Pomerico, and cover artist Alexander Jansson!

And happy rebirthday to The Queen of Blood!

http://www.sarahbethdurst.com/QueenofBlood.htm

RACE THE SANDS Book Necklace Countdown: Book 11

I'm counting down to the publication of my 20th book, RACE THE SANDS, out 4/21, by sharing pics of each #booknecklace my husband gave me to celebrate each of my prior books...

Book 11 (adult SFF): THE QUEEN OF BLOOD, Book 1 of The Queens of Renthia, is an epic fantasy set in a world filled with bloodthirsty nature spirits. Only queens have the power to control them. So my #booknecklace is a crown with a tiny blood-red stone.

Writing The Queens of Renthia was such a wonderfully immersive experience. Every day I sat down at my computer, it felt like walking through the wardrobe into Narnia... except it's a Narnia where the trees want to kill you.

THE QUEEN OF BLOOD eBook Sale

Over the next 2 weeks, the ebook of THE QUEEN OF BLOOD is super cheap, just $1.99! This is Book 1 of my epic fantasy trilogy, The Queens of Renthia. If you've ever wanted to dive in, now is a great time. Trilogy concludes with Book 3 in May! https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062413369/the-queen-of-blood

 

Paperback Release Day for THE QUEEN OF BLOOD!

Today is the mass market paperback release day for THE QUEEN OF BLOOD (Book One of The Queens of Renthia)!!! You can now experience bloodthirsty nature spirits in an all-new bendy and extra-portable format!

I squealed when I saw them. Really loudly. Loud enough to startle the cat. You see, when I was a kid, I was only allowed to buy mass market paperbacks, so that's the format that all my childhood favorites are in (like The Blue Sword, The Pawn of Prophecy, Dragonsong, Arrows of the Queen, The Sword of Shannara, The Summer Tree...). So it feels extra special to have my book look just like those.

https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Blood-Book-Queens-Renthia/dp/006247409X

 

ALA Alex Award Medal

Look what came in the mail! My ALA Alex Award medal for THE QUEEN OF BLOOD! It's so cool, and heavy! Thanks, American Library Association!

 

THE QUEEN OF BLOOD won an Alex Award!!!

My book, THE QUEEN OF BLOOD, just won an Alex Award!!!!! It's an American Library Association (ALA) award given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults. I am so honored, grateful, and thrilled! Thank you to ALA and the Alex committee!!! And congratulations to the other winners!

*Snoopy dance of joy*

http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2017/01/american-library-association-announces-2017-youth-media-award-winners

THE QUEEN OF BLOOD comes out today!!!

I'm so excited to share THE QUEEN OF BLOOD with you!  It's the first in a new epic fantasy series from Harper Voyager called THE QUEENS OF RENTHIA, and it's set in a world filled with nature spirits.  But these aren't your sweet, frolicking pastoral sprites... These spirits want to kill all humans, and only certain women -- queens -- can control them.

This book was born in blood.

Ooh, that sounded nice and dramatic.  Must remember that line.  Anyway, this is what happened: I had just arrived at a writing retreat in the Poconos.  Beautiful place.  Forests.  Hills.  Prancing deer and babbling brooks, and so forth.  Every writer was given an adorable wood cabin nestled beneath the pines.  I was walking up to mine, marveling at the trees, reveling in the bird song, not watching my feet... and I tripped on the step up to the porch and fell flat on my face.  Cut my lip.  And that was the exact moment that this book -- specifically, the idea of bloodthirsty nature spirits -- was born. 

Trees + blood = story.

Despite its thoroughly embarrassingly klutzy origin -- seriously, the step was right there!  I saw it! -- I loved writing this book.  It was such an immersive writing experience.  Every day I'd sit down at my desk and feel as if I'd walked through a portal and into a city suspended between massive trees, where, let's face it, I probably would have been instantly killed, but Daleina and Ven -- an idealistic student and a banished warrior -- worked to protect their people.

I have always loved fantasy.  I was that kid curled up in the corner of the library with a David Eddings, Terry Brooks, Robin McKinley, or Mercedes Lackey book, reading it for the twelfth time.  Every night, I checked the back of my closet for a way into Narnia, and every birthday, I wished for a magic wand (a real one, please, not a toy) or a dragon's egg (that would hatch a friendly telepathic dragon, of course).

The thing that I love the most about both writing and reading fantasy is the way it takes you on a journey -- sweeps you off on an adventure, and then brings you back again, maybe slightly changed, a little stronger, a little braver.  I believe that fantasy literature, at its core, is -- or can be -- a literature of hope and empowerment.  That's what Daleina and Ven's story has been for me.  And so, I hope you'll join me in journeying with them!

Welcome to Renthia!  Just watch out for the trees.  They bite.

Excerpt: First Three Chapters of THE QUEEN OF BLOOD

THE QUEEN OF BLOOD comes out tomorrow!!! Woohoo!  *checks stash of chocolate, eats stash of chocolate* The first three chapters are now online:

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3

Excerpt: First Two Chapters of THE QUEEN OF BLOOD

THE QUEEN OF BLOOD comes out one week from today!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! The first two chapters are now online:

Chapter 1
Chapter 2

Excerpt: Chapter One of THE QUEEN OF BLOOD

It's exactly 2 weeks until THE QUEEN OF BLOOD comes out! Eeeep! You can read Chapter 1 here: https://www.facebook.com/notes/harper-voyager/the-queen-of-blood-chapter-1/1096449987091362

Starred Review for THE QUEEN OF BLOOD from Publishers Weekly!!!

THE QUEEN OF BLOOD got its 2nd starred review, from Publishers Weekly!!! So happy!!!!!

Starred Review for THE QUEEN OF BLOOD from Library Journal!!!

Just found out that THE QUEEN OF BLOOD got a starred review in Library Journal!!! Eeeeeep!!!

Blurbs from Terry Brooks and Tamora Pierce!

Eeeeep! Excited to share blurbs from Terry Brooks and Tamora Pierce for my upcoming epic fantasy THE QUEEN OF BLOOD! Double eeeeep!

 

Cover Reveal for THE QUEEN OF BLOOD!

Last week, Barnes & Noble revealed the cover for my upcoming epic fantasy novel, THE QUEEN OF BLOOD!

I can sum up my reaction in a single word (or letter!): "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!"

I am so, so, so thrilled with it and so excited to share it with you!

The B&N post also includes an interview with me and the amazing artist Stephan Martiniere about the cover creation process. 

I am so honored to have Stephan Martiniere's art on my book.  I've admired his work for some time, and I think he did an absolutely fantastic job in capturing the feel of the novel and the grandeur of the forests of Renthia.  Thank you so much to Stephan, my editor David, and the wonderful art department at Harper!!!

THE QUEEN OF BLOOD is book one in the Queens of Renthia series.  Here is the description from the jacket:

Everything has a spirit: the willow tree with leaves that kiss the pond, the stream that feeds the river, the wind that exhales fresh snow . . .

But the spirits that reside within this land want to rid it of all humans. One woman stands between these malevolent spirits and the end of humankind: the queen. She alone has the magical power to prevent the spirits from destroying every man, woman, and child. But queens are still just human, and no matter how strong or good, the threat of danger always looms.

With the position so precarious, young women are chosen to train as heirs. Daleina, a seemingly quiet academy student, is under no illusions as to her claim to the throne, but simply wants to right the wrongs that have befallen the land. Ven, a disgraced champion, has spent his exile secretly fighting against the growing number of spirit attacks. Joining forces, these daring partners embark on a treacherous quest to find the source of the spirits' restlessness -- a journey that will test their courage and trust, and force them to stand against both enemies and friends to save their land . . . before it's bathed in blood.

I had the most wonderful writing experience working on this book!  It was pure joy from start to finish.  Every day felt like walking into another world. 

THE QUEEN OF BLOOD will be out on September 20th from Harper Voyager, and I can't wait for you to come walking in Renthia with me! 

Just watch out for the bloodthirsty nature spirits.......

Announcing THE QUEENS OF RENTHIA Trilogy!

I am so very, very excited to announce that I've sold a new trilogy of books for adults!!!  An epic fantasy trilogy!!!!!!!!!!!  In the biggest book deal of my career to date!  Series title is THE QUEENS OF RENTHIA and they will be published by HarperCollins / Voyager in 2016 and 2017.  Here's the announcement from this week's Publishers Weekly Book Deals:

Durst Delivers 'Queens' to Harper

In a three-book deal, Harper Voyager's David Pomerico preempted world rights to Sarah Beth Durst's fantasy trilogy, the Queens of Renthia. Durst, who was represented by Andrea Somberg at Harvey Klinger, said the series is set in a world "where everything in nature has a spirit -- and where those spirits are bloodthirsty killers who seek the death of all humans." Book one, The Queen of Blood, is set for a fall 2016 publication. Durst has written a number of fantasy novels for children and adults, including the YA title Chasing Power (Bloomsbury) and the adult title The Lost (Mira), both published in 2014.

I am doing a serious Snoopy dance of joy right now, complete with Muppet flailing arms and high-pitched squeals:  
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

As mentioned in the PW announcement, Renthia is a world where everything has a spirit: the willow tree with leaves that kiss the pond, the stream that feeds the river, the wind that exhales fresh snow...  But these are not the sweet, frolicking nature sprites from a pastoral tale.  The spirits that reside within this land want to kill all humans, the way white blood cells want to kill a virus.  Only a few women are gifted with the power to control the spirits.  To defend their people, these women must fight to become queens... or die trying.

Tentative titles and publication dates are:

Book 1: THE QUEEN OF BLOOD -- October 2016
Book 2: THE RELUCTANT QUEEN -- February 2017
Book 3: THE QUEEN OF SORROW -- June 2017

I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I am about this trilogy.  I love epic fantasy.  Really, really love it, as in spent an inordinate amount of my childhood pretending that I was a magical sword-wielding princess on a quest, drawing massive maps of nonexistent lands, and reading David Eddings's The Belgariad so many times that Polgara, Silk, and Durnik felt like real people.  So to be writing books born from this tradition...  Let's just say my ten-year-old self would be doing a lot of cartwheeling if she knew.

Right now, I'm in the middle of writing book one, and I am loving working on it so much.  It feels exactly like writing is supposed to feel, as if I have plunged through a portal into another world.  I feel so incredibly lucky and thrilled and overjoyed, and I can't wait to welcome you to Renthia and share this world's stories and people with you!

Just don't try to visit Renthia in person, because those trees... they'll totally kill you.