I was pleasantly surprised by The Queen of Blood. I didn't have many expectations and maybe this is why I enjoyed it so much! It was a fantasy fantasy book with a solid worldbuilding, an understated romance and relatable characters. I liked the entire journey of Daleina, especially her growing up from a child to a girl/woman who wasn't the classic i'm-the-most-badass-character-get-the-hell-out-of-my-way. She was brave and selfless, yes, but also she had flaws and insecurities as every human beings, and this is why I liked her. If I didn't know there is a second book, I would consider it a stand-alone because the ending has a full closure of the story.