THE THIRD DAUGHTER

Expectations weigh heavily—even on those who are passed over.

Princess Elodie will not inherit her mother’s throne even though she’s the eldest. She has trained to be Queen’s Regent to her youngest sister, Brianne, who is the third daughter of a third daughter and supposedly the second coming of the church’s revered New Maiden. But now the Chaplain, who’s also the girls’ father, has usurped even that role from her. Skeptical of the church’s motives, Elodie seeks a potion to put 13-year-old Brianne to sleep until she comes of age at 17. That would mean Elodie could meanwhile rule in her stead. Apothecary Sabine sells her family’s potions, which are given more potency from a special ingredient: Sabine’s tears, which are the manifestation of her magic, a darkness that literally coats her veins in blackness. Sabine accidentally gives Elodie a bottle of her tears, and there’s no telling what the result might be or if Sabine can reverse its effect. The two 17-year-old girls are thrown together in a web of power-grabbing intrigue, diluted prophecies, familial expectations, slow-burn Sapphic romance, and building magic. This fantasy world comes with a layered faux religious backstory, but it includes a few layers too many. Characters fulfill their assigned roles but remain flat on the page, and more is explained than witnessed, so even betrayals feel deflated. The prospect of a sequel set up at the end is likewise lackluster. With one minor exception, most characters are described as pale.

Offers muted charms.