Book Review: The Mark of the Tala by Jeffe Kennedy

The Mark of the Tala
Author: Jeffe Kennedy
Series: The Twelve Kingdoms (Book 1)
Publication: Kensington (May 27, 2014)

Description: The tales tell of three sisters, daughters of the high king. The eldest, a valiant warrior-woman, heir to the kingdom. The youngest, the sweet beauty with her Prince Charming. No one says much about the middle princess, Andromeda. Andi, the other one.

Andi doesn't mind being invisible. She enjoys the company of her horse more than court, and she has a way of blending into the shadows. Until the day she meets a strange man riding, who keeps company with wolves and ravens, who rules a land of shapeshifters and demons. A country she'd thought was no more than legend--until he claims her as its queen.

In a moment everything changes: Her father, the wise king, becomes a warlord, suspicious and strategic. Whispers call her dead mother a traitor and a witch. Andi doesn't know if her own instincts can be trusted, as visions appear to her and her body begins to rebel.

For Andi, the time to learn her true nature has come. . .

My Thoughts: This beginning story in a new fantasy series begins as a traditional fairy tale because it is the story of three daughters of the High King. This is the story of the forgotten middle daughter. Princess Andromeda isn't the smart, political one. Nor is the the charming and beautiful youngest. She much prefers riding her horse to any other activity. Her mother died giving birth to her youngest sister when Andi was five. Since then she had been trying to gain the approval of her distant father.

When she meets a young man in the woods, her life changes. Andi learns that her mother was one of the mysterious Tala and that her father broke his oath to send one of his daughters back to the Tala. Rayfe is the King of the Tala and needs to convince Andi to return to their land with him. Andi is torn between her loyalty to her sisters and her country and her growing love for Rayfe.

This is a story of a young woman learning secrets that have been withheld from her and learning that she can be something other than the invisible middle sister. I enjoyed the magic in the story and look forward to reading more.

Favorite Quote:

"Why doesn't anyone else know about this tunnel?"

"I imagine someone did, once. It's right here." She traced the route with her fingertips.

"And it's been sitting here in storage."

She raised her eyebrows, giving me a pointed look. "This is why it's perilous to ignore a librarian."

I borrowed this book from a friend. You can buy your copy here.