Blood Beneath the Snow

Kennington sets her satisfying romantasy debut in the stratified Fjordlands country of Bhorglid, where the magically gifted godtouched look down upon the powerless godforsaken. As one of the latter, Princess Revna Thorunsdotter is despised by her family, useful only to be married off in a political alliance as part of the holy war against neighboring Kryllian. In a desperate gamble to evade this fate, Revna enters the Bloodshed Trials, a deathmatch against her brothers in which the last one standing claims the throne. During her preparations, she’s abducted by Kryllian’s general, the terrifying Hellbringer, who can kill with a single touch. To her surprise, however, his intention is to train her into a mighty warrior in hopes that her victory over her bloodthirsty relatives might bring an end to the war. As Revna hones her martial prowess, she and the aloof Hellbringer grow closer, discovering unexpected common ground. Kennington conjures a dangerous world populated by colorful characters and enhanced by an underlying tension—romantic and otherwise. Though the love story occasionally overshadows the political intrigue and familial drama, it’s undeniable that feisty Revna meshes well with her enigmatic and alluring captor. This is a promising start. Agent: Bethany Hendrix, Spencerhill Assoc. (Mar.)