The Third Daughter

This book, though! I admit that I went into The Third Daughter with very high expectations. The summary and first page (see my first line Friday) gave me strong Three Dark Crown vibes. And it did have some similarities- sibling bonds, political intrigue, and magic; it wasn’t really like Three Dark Crowns, which is just fine! Adrienne Tooley has written a YA fantasy stunner in The Third Daughter.

I have been struggling to read fantasy (both adult and YA). I seem to be caught in the middle where I seem to have grown out of YA, but the Adult Fantasies are just too much. So, I was thrilled that I found The Third Daughter so engrossing. I read it the day I started it (yesterday). First of all, the representation fits the plot; it isn’t forced. You have mental illness representations and a slow-burn sapphic romance between two characters from opposite ends of the world.

Being Bipolar (among other treated mental adventures, as I call them), I am very sensitive when authors include mental illness in their plot. I was delighted by how well Adrienne Tooley incorporated depression, trauma, and Anxiety into The Third Daughter. It wasn’t just about being sad. You could feel the weight of not just depression on Sabine’s shoulders. You also feel exhaustion and self-doubt. Then there is a literal internal voice that brings Sabine to a dark place of self-doubt, unworthiness, and constant blaming of herself for, well, everything. Speaking of emotions, the magic that results from Sabine’s sadness, her literal tears are magic is heartbreaking. Moreover, the politicization of emotions and magic is executed expertly.

ReviewThank you to Hachette Audio Christy Ottaviano Books for my ARC and audio ARC of Adrienne Tooley’s The Third Daughter, which releases on July 18th.
Let’s talk about my emotions for a moment. You will spit nails at the beginning of The Third Daughter. Between the church’s manipulations over Brianne and the attempted dismissal of the oldest daughter, Elodie, to a faraway country, everything will make you want to throw The Third Daughter across the room in the best of ways. Then you are on an emotional see-saw throughout the rest of The Third Daughter. Adrienne Tooley’s writing gets under your skin and makes you feel each moment of the story. The cliffhanger will make you throw the book across the room and then have you come back bloody and bruised for book two.

The Third Daughter By Adrienne Tooley- Characters
Simply put, I loved them! I loved how we visited Brianne in her deep sleep. It brings an air of mystery. What plane she exists on, and what she is learning. Further, what does it even have to do with anything? Oh. It has to do with everything, but not learning what until the end of the book leaves you wondering while event after event continues. She is young and beyond impressionable. She is easily moved like a pawn. And that is why Elodie steps in.

While Elodie could be seen as power-hungry, she genuinely tries to protect Brianne and Velle from a manipulative church bent on ruling all. Elodie is a complicated character, definitely not your typical hero. Adrienne Tooley balances what you dislike and like about Elodie with precision. Things go awry when she buys what she thinks is a sleeping draft from Sabine. At that point, her love for Brianne begins to shine even as she still has an heir of arrogance about her.

One thing I love most about how all the characters are written is how they change throughout the book. When Elodie goes on her quest with Sabine, her friends and siblings are a specific personality. When she returns, they have dramatically changed. These changes match the plot perfectly. Adrienne Tooley’s brave writing will have you stunned and frustrated with each character.

The Third Daughter By Adrienne Tooley- Final Thoughts And Audiobook
My final thoughts on The Third Daughter? It definitely falls into the class of “It killed me, here, now you read it” books, and I resemble that remark. That is what I’m trying to tell you!

The audiobook is well-produced and narrated by Rebecca Lee. I haven’t heard her narrate a book before, but I definitely would love to listen to her again.

Thank you so much for letting me listen to this audiobook. I very much enjoyed this audiobook listen. It was perfect for a lazy summer evening. The author managed to grab me and and didn't let go until the very end. Can't wait for the next installment.

A wonderful start to a YA fantasy series, steeped in political intrigue and featuring a well written slow burn Sapphic romance I enjoyed every second.

Our story follows a dual pov, one featuring Princess Elodie, who has been groomed to rule her whole life but now has to watch her naïve 13 year old sister take the crown along with being the prophesised chosen one. Our other pov features Sabine, a poor girl who has an intense sadness akin to depression (nicknamed her darkness), but whose tears have magical properties a talent that is exploited by her family to make money to keep a roof over their head. The two girls worlds collide when Elodie purchases a potion from Sabine that goes horribly wrong with far reaching consequences that the two girls must now try and solve.

As stated previously the plot is full of political intrigue, plays for power and scheming from all sides. most of which I didn't really see coming and one of which completely shifts the story and raises the stakes tremendously.

In terms of characters, our main two ladies are well written, are they (particularly Elodie) flawed and make bad choices at times, yes but instead of feeling frustrating as flawed characters can sometimes feel to me, these girls feel real their choices and flaws make sense for the way they've grown up. The other characters are also well written although these characters are more often than not people I came to despise for the way they treat other people (my god I wanted to punch Artur in the face so badly) it feels purposeful by the author to further the characters story rather than just a case of bad writing.

I am perhaps biased with how much I loved the romance because I adore slow burn but I loved the relationship between our two main characters it felt organic and earned. Girls from completely different worlds that found something in each other that their previous lives had never given them.

I did listen to the audiobook of this and thought that the narrator, Rebecca Lee did a great job, the characters all felt distinct and the voices fit perfectly.

Suffice to say I cannot wait to see where the series goes next and would definitely recommend this book to other fantasy fans.

Fun fantasy fairytale audio book for older YR and YA. The prophesied Third Daughter is here at last! Two teenagers at the opposite ends of social standing - a Princess and an Apothecary - each makes a mistake with consequences that will affect them both. And this story is ignited, with twists added as it rushes onwards. I loved the characters, their feelings and emotions in turmoil; although sometimes I think the author’s choices for them are incorrect (but that’s my opinion). Oh phooey, I’ve finished the book. Now I have to wait for the next, I’m sure, equally exciting sequel. Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.