Review: The Third Daughter by Adrienne Tooley

The Third Daughter by Adrienne Tooley

Release date: July 18, 2023

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Book 1 in a sweeping YA duology about legacy, betrayal, sisterhood, and politicizing emotion in the quest for power- all balanced by a slow burn LGBTQ romance.

For centuries, the citizens of Velle have waited for their New Maiden to return. The prophecy states she will appear as the third daughter of a third daughter. When the fabled child is finally born to Velle's reigning queen all rejoice except for Elodie, the queen's eldest child, who has lost her claim to the crown. The only way for Elodie to protect Velle is retake the throne. To do so, she must debilitate the Third Daughter- her youngest sister, Brianna.

Desperate, Elodie purchases a sleeping potion from Sabine, who sells sadness. But the apothecary mistakenly sends the princess away with a vial of tears instead of a harmless sleeping brew. Sabine's sadness is dangerously powerful, and Brianne slips into a slumber from which she will not wake. With the fates is dangerously powerful and country hanging in the balance, Sabine and Elodie hurry to revive the Third Daughter while a slow-burning attraction between the two girls erupts in full force.

LGBTQ. Slow Burn. Sapphic Romance. Sign me up! I told you in the last queer read, I WANT MORE.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars

The eldest daughter, Elodie, must stay silent as her youngest sister the prophesied Third Daughter gets crowned in front of her. At the mere age of four Elodie was cast aside as it became more apparent, she was longer of importance now that Brianne would be the holder of the crown. 

Now seventeen she knows what consequences comes from Brianne being crowned and the power being put into her father's hand. As he is the head of church his views of society are fixed, which will only lead to the downfall of the nation. Brianne, only thirteen, was a mere pawn in his game. A game that will not end well. 

With such prophecy comes fear, Elodie recalled her mother's words. The New Maiden will live in danger - from political rivals to warring religions, there will always be those who do not wish for her to grow old. She will spend most of her time protecting her own life. That means it is up to you to protect our country.

Elodie took this as a warning sign. Whilst everyone else was celebrating the New Maiden and the rise of the nation, no one realised who was truly in power. She knew what she had to do...but was it the correct actions to take?

"Anything for my favourite daughter."

"I'm your only daughter," she reminded him.

I loved seeing the father-daughter relationship between Elodie and her real father. There was funny moments and banter passed around. 

A book has never single handedly given me so much rage like this one. The first few chapters made me want to jump into the book and scream at Chaplain, Brianne's real father. The "advice" he gives Brianne is only to deceive her. 

When there is so much hatred you can only expect someone to strike. In comes Sabrine, her tears are said to hold magic. Coming from a poor background, she wants to make ends meet even if she has to be in pain. Elodie so desperate for anything goes to Sabine by fate. 

Trying to save herself and her nation, she makes it worse. Now not only has her sister been put under a deep sleep but now Chaplain is in control. Now the fate of the nation is doomed. 

This book goes through many twists and turns. Watch out for the cliff hanger ending! I can't wait for book two to come out!

Thank you Hodderscape for providing a digital Netgalley ARC

A must-read for fans of the BookTok sensations Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson, and These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong.